Tancama in Jalpan de Serra, Querétaro, Mexico — The Central Highlands (North America)
The Copper Butterfly Building
Tancama Archaeological Zone
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 14, 2018
1. The Copper Butterfly Building Marker
Edificio de las Mariposas de Cobre
El simbolismo de la mariposa en Mesoamerica es muy conocido, pues existen múltiples representaciones arquelógicas de este insecto. En la parte superior de este edificio se recuperó un entierro múltiple, cuyo personaje principal portaba un par de aretes en forma de flor, de la cual estaba pendiente una mariposa que representaba el momento en que se aproxima a libar el néctar. De ahí el nombre ortorgado a esta construcción y la imagen dada a la zona arqueológica.
Aunque este edificio es el más grande y quizá el más importante del asentamiento, desgraciadamente también es el más dañado por el hombre.
La ausencia de información y el desinterés provocaron que durante muchos años se extrajeran miles de rocas de los edificios de este lugar para construir los muros de casas.
Más que material de construcción, Tancama debe ser fuente de conocimiento y gozo. Al llevarte rocas de una zona arqueológica no sólo arrancas fragmentos de historia, además destruyes tu patrimonio. No te lleves objetos de Tancama para que otros visitantes se puedan llevar un buen recuerdo.
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The Copper Butterfly Building
The symbolism of the butterfly in Mesoamerica is well known, since there are multiple archaeological representations of this insect in the area. In the upper part of this building a multiple burial was recovered, whose main character carried a pair of earrings in the shape of a flower, on which a butterfly was standing, representing the moment when it approaches the nectar. Hence the name given to this construction and the image given to the archaeological zone here.
Although this building is the largest and perhaps the most important of the settlement, unfortunately it is also the most damaged by man.
The absence of information and lack of interest caused thousands of rocks to be extracted from the buildings of this place for many years to build the walls of houses.
More than construction material, Tancama must be a source of knowledge and joy. When you take rocks from an archaeological zone, you not only take away fragments of history, you also destroy your own heritage. Do not take any objects from Tancama so that other visitors can take away a good memory.
Caption: Earrings found in the building
Erected by Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 14, 2018
2. An additional nearby marker on Nature and Culture
This additional marker is just southeast of the Copper Butterfly Building. It reads:
Cultura y Natura
La Sierra Gorda de Querétaro posee una extraordinaria riqueza natural, histórica, arqueológica y de patrimonio intangible presente en las tradiciones de sus habitantes. Mucho de esto se puede ver en Tancama, lugar donde convergen los tesoros arqueológicos de la cultura huasteca y los naturales de la reserva de la Biosfera.
La biodiversidad se manifiesta tanto en las bellas y raras especies de orquídeas que habitan en las ramas de los árboles, como en los enigmáticos felinos como la onza. Aún se pueden observar venados en los alrededores, lo que permite inferir e imaginar su presencia en tiempo antiguos. La variedad de la fauna de este lugar también se refleja en los hallazgos arqueológicos, pues cánidos, pericos, monos, camaleones, murciélagos y diversas aves fueron representados en vasijas, pipas, silbatos y otros artefactos cerámicos.
Al recoger, mover o dañar los edificios y objetos arqueológicos se pierde la capacidad de conocer el pasado. Igualmente, al capturar o matar animales y talar o extraer especies vegetales deterioramos nuestro medio ambiente y ponemos en riesgo nuestro futuro. Por ello, todos tenemos la responsabilidad de conservar los monumentos arqueológicos y mantener el equilibrio ecológico.
English translation:
Culture and Nature
The Sierra Gorda de Querétaro has an extraordinary natural, historical, archaeological and intangible heritage present in the traditions of its people. Much of this can be seen in Tancama, where the archaeological treasures of the Huastecan culture and the natives of the Biosphere Reserve converge.
Biodiversity is manifested in both the beautiful and rare species of orchids that inhabit the branches of the trees, as in the enigmatic felines like the native lynx. You can still see deer in the area, which allows us to infer and imagine their presence in ancient times. The variety of fauna of this place is also reflected in the archaeological findings, since canines, parakeets, monkeys, chameleons, bats and various birds were represented in vessels, pipes, whistles and other ceramic artifacts.
By collecting, moving or damaging buildings and archaeological objects you lose the ability to know the past. Likewise, by capturing or killing animals and cutting down or extracting plant species, we deteriorate our environment and put our future at risk. Therefore, we all have the responsibility to preserve the archaeological monuments and maintain the ecological balance.
La Sierra Gorda de Querétaro posee una extraordinaria riqueza natural, histórica, arqueológica y de patrimonio intangible presente en las tradiciones de sus habitantes. Mucho de esto se puede ver en Tancama, lugar donde convergen los tesoros arqueológicos de la cultura huasteca y los naturales de la reserva de la Biosfera.
La biodiversidad se manifiesta tanto en las bellas y raras especies de orquídeas que habitan en las ramas de los árboles, como en los enigmáticos felinos como la onza. Aún se pueden observar venados en los alrededores, lo que permite inferir e imaginar su presencia en tiempo antiguos. La variedad de la fauna de este lugar también se refleja en los hallazgos arqueológicos, pues cánidos, pericos, monos, camaleones, murciélagos y diversas aves fueron representados en vasijas, pipas, silbatos y otros artefactos cerámicos.
Al recoger, mover o dañar los edificios y objetos arqueológicos se pierde la capacidad de conocer el pasado. Igualmente, al capturar o matar animales y talar o extraer especies vegetales deterioramos nuestro medio ambiente y ponemos en riesgo nuestro futuro. Por ello, todos tenemos la responsabilidad de conservar los monumentos arqueológicos y mantener el equilibrio ecológico.
Culture and Nature
The Sierra Gorda de Querétaro has an extraordinary natural, historical, archaeological and intangible heritage present in the traditions of its people. Much of this can be seen in Tancama, where the archaeological treasures of the Huastecan culture and the natives of the Biosphere Reserve converge.
Biodiversity is manifested in both the beautiful and rare species of orchids that inhabit the branches of the trees, as in the enigmatic felines like the native lynx. You can still see deer in the area, which allows us to infer and imagine their presence in ancient times. The variety of fauna of this place is also reflected in the archaeological findings, since canines, parakeets, monkeys, chameleons, bats and various birds were represented in vessels, pipes, whistles and other ceramic artifacts.
By collecting, moving or damaging buildings and archaeological objects you lose the ability to know the past. Likewise, by capturing or killing animals and cutting down or extracting plant species, we deteriorate our environment and put our future at risk. Therefore, we all have the responsibility to preserve the archaeological monuments and maintain the ecological balance.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Architecture • Man-Made Features • Native Americans.
Location. 21° 9.591′ N, 99° 23.804′ W. Marker is in Tancama, Querétaro, in Jalpan de Serra. Marker can be reached from Jalpan de Serra - Xilitla Highway (Route 120), on the left when traveling east. The marker is at the base of the Copper Butterfly Building at the Tancama Archaeological Site. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Tancama QUE 76347, Mexico. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Buildings for the Elite (within shouting distance of this marker); The Small Ballcourt (within shouting distance of this marker); Corporal Deformation (within shouting distance of this marker); The Four Huastecans (within shouting distance of this marker); Plaza Santiago (within shouting distance of this marker); Tancama (within shouting distance of this marker); The Building of the Attached Room (within shouting distance of this marker); Tribute to Benito Juárez (approx. 8.2 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Tancama.
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 14, 2018
3. The Copper Butterfly Building and Marker
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 14, 2018
4. The Copper Butterfly Building and Marker
Photographed By J. Makali Bruton, July 14, 2018
5. The additional marker at the base of a possible ballcourt
Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on July 20, 2018, by J. Makali Bruton of Accra, Ghana.
