TORREON.- A new exhibition at the Regional Museum of La Laguna (Murel) is set to illuminate the significant role women played in Huastec society during the pre-Hispanic era. Mesoamerican Huastec Women: Goddesses, Warriors, and Governors will showcase 132 archaeological objects, offering a compelling look at the power and influence women held within their communities.
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The exhibition's opening, scheduled for Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 5:30 PM at Murel (Av. Juárez s/n, inside Bosque Venustiano Carranza), marks a significant moment in recognizing the often-overlooked contributions of women in ancient Mexican history. The project is a collaboration between Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and the National Museum of Mexican Art of Chicago (MNAMC) in Illinois, USA.
The inspiration for this binational project stemmed from the remarkable discoveries of two sculptures known as "the Young Woman of Amajac" in Veracruz. The first was found in a citrus grove in 2021, and the second was unearthed in 2023 on a street in Hidalgo Amajac. These finds ignited a broader reflection on the historical role of women in Mexican society.
The exhibition enjoyed a successful run at the MNAMC from April 26 to July 21, 2024, attracting over 22,661 visitors. Now, Mexican audiences will have the chance to experience this insightful exploration of Huastec women's lives, beginning February 2, 2025.
Curated by museographer David Morales Gómez and INAH Veracruz researcher María Eugenia Maldonado Vite, the exhibition delves into the diverse roles women held in Huastec culture—political, military, religious, social, and familial—before the Spanish conquest. Through iconographic and symbolic analysis, the 132 artifacts—including jewelry, pectorals, clay figurines, vessels, and large sculptures—reveal the multifaceted contributions of women. These artifacts span a broad timeframe, from the Preclassic to the Postclassic periods (1500 BC-1521 AD).
Among the highlights are the first "Young Woman of Amajac" sculpture, dated between 1200 and 1450 AD; shell earrings and a stone pectoral from 900-1521 AD; and a string of gold and greenstone beads dating back to 200-900 AD.
These invaluable pieces originate from various museums and institutions, including the National Museum of Anthropology and the Anthropology Museum of Xalapa, as well as regional and community museums in Potosino, Tampico Alto, and the Huasteca region. Contributions also came from INAH centers in San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz, along with a few private collections registered with INAH.
The artifacts, recovered from excavations along the Gulf Coast of Mexico and the states of Hidalgo, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz, showcase the remarkable artistry of ancient lapidaries and potters. These skilled artisans captured, molded, and immortalized the significant presence of women in both public and private life in the Huastec world. The exhibition promises to be a powerful testament to the enduring legacy of these influential women.
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