Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
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Oaxaca Hall
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Western Cultures
Hall
This hall displays artifacts
from western Mexico,
including pottery figurines
and vessels of unusual
complexity and fine
design. The hunchbacked
figure of a god on a
serpent is notable.
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Northern Cultures
This hall showcases
artifacts from the two
cultures that flourished in
Oaxaca - Zapotec and
Mixtec. There is a recon-
struction of the Zapotec
Tomb of Monte Albán and
many elegant clay vessels
with various figures on
them. The Mixtec collec-
tion features silver and
gold pieces, and carved
jade and obsidian.
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Toltec Hall
Hall
The hall features artifacts
from northern Mexico.
Pottery, masks, and weap-
ons form the largest
portion of the collection.
The highlight is the finely
formed decorated pottery
from Paquimé featuring
red or black designs on
cream-colored vessels.
This hall displays art
objects from the great
Toltec city-states that
developed from 850-
1250. The sculpture of a
bearded warrior emerg-
ing from the mouth of
a coyote
(above)
can
be seen here.
)
Ethnography Halls
The second floor of
the museum is filled with
brilliantly colored textiles,
costumes, and art of the
indigenous people from
all regions of Mexico.
Cultures are organized by
state and in relation to
the anthropology halls
downstairs.
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Gulf
Coast Hall
The Olmecs are
known for the
colossal stone
head sculptures
of their leaders
(above)
, two of
which are in this hall.
Also displayed are stone
masks and sculptures.
Museum Guide
The entrance hall
contains the gift shop,
restrooms, temporary
exhibit rooms, and ticket
area. It opens into a
huge courtyard whose
roof is supported by a
modern carved pillar
and water fountain. The
courtyard has doors that
open into the museum
halls. Each of the halls
displays archeological
objects from a different
region or culture in
Mexico and each has a
door that leads into an
exterior garden area
where reconstructions
and artifacts are on
show. The entire upper
floor showcases the
ethnology collection.
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Maya Hall
Exquisite examples of
highly decorated temple
architecture and fine
artistic creations of
Mayan civilization fill the
hall. There are also many
stucco figures that
illustrate the Mayan ideal
of human beauty.
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Aztec or Mexica
Hall
The museum's largest
hall is filled with impress-
ive monoliths and finely
crafted objects represen-
tative of the immense
diversity of Aztec culture.
The centerpiece is the
intricately carved Sun
Stone, a circular disk
representing the Mexica
cosmos
(see p10)
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In the garden of the Maya Hall is a reconstruction of Palenque's
Temple of Inscriptions
