The Phil Weigand Guachimontones Museum is located 40 kilometers west of Guadalajara and presents the fascinating history of the people who constructed huge “circular pyramids” all around Western Mexico 2,000 years ago.
At the same time, the museum always features a display on some other topic related to archaeology. Recently, I learned that the latest of these changing exhibits is a presentation by the Neoprehistory Institute, featuring art by Ernesto Solana. As I had no idea what neoprehistory means, I phoned up Arely Orozco, administrator of the museum, to ask her what the display was all about.
“Saqueo,” she replied.
“Saqueo?” I repeated, my eyes widening.
Saqueo means tomb looting, surely a more interesting topic than neoprehistory, whatever that is.
For the general public, tomb looting might bring up dynamic images of Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, but for every archaeologist in Mexico it literally conjures up nightmares.
“The display is about saqueo? Okay, I’m coming to see it tomorrow.”
The museum is an hour’s drive from Guadalajara and two hours from Lakeside. Arely Orozco was there waiting for me, her baby Ana Paula in one arm.
Please login or subscribe to view the complete article.