Narigua, Witness of the Arid-American Culture
Juan Rodr?guez Cerrillo
There are many similarities between Narigua petroglyphs and those of northern Mexico (
Chihuahua) and of the Anasazi, Mogollones, Hohokam, Sinaguas and Salados people, who lived in southwestern United States (Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico).
The municipality of General Cepeda is located on the El Pinal mountain range in southeastern Coahuila. This area is famous for its white, saltpetrous earth and its vegetation, which includes: gobernadora, lechuguilla, Chinese palm and some types cactus. Millions of years ago, this area was a sea, which explains the large amount of marine fossils found there. Recently, a swamp area was discovered where
mammoths, saber-toothed cats and
wild horseslived. According to some studies, about 8,000 years ago, this area was covered with coniferous and gramineous trees and it is believed that it was an important corridor between North and South Arid-America.
Ancient petroglyphswere found here some years ago. Archeological studies in the Boca de Potrillo area show that these petroglyphs date from 4,000 B.C.
Rinc?n Colorado
On the road to Parras de la Fuente we find a paleontology museum. It is very close to Cerro de la Virgen, a hill where fossils of the duck-billed ceratodus, the last of the great dinosaurs, were discovered. It is worthwhile to stop and see some of the replicas of the findings. This place is the pride of Mexican paleontology, since the first dinosaur found in Mexico was rebuilt here.
Estaci?n Marte
Its name in Spanish (Mars Station) says it all. It is a railroad station on a hill 1,500 meters above sea level, which rises above the plains and reminds us of the island it used to be. Anyone who climbs up the hill will be amazed to see so many fossilized mollusks everywhere. There are also rocks with a high iron content, whose origin, in some cases, could be from
meteorites. Once below and after the long hike, visitors can enjoy a cold beer in the El Planeta bar.
Parras de la Fuente
Parras de la Fuente does not look like a desert. This is because the town is so close to the mountains that it has always had plenty of water. Parras de la Fuente, land of the Madero family, is a worldwide leading producer of
denim and also has important vineyards. The orchards and bathing resorts of the city remind us what a big difference water makes in a place like this.
General Cepeda
From colonial times and up to the pre-Revolutionary era, General Cepeda was considered to be one of the largest estates in Latin America. It was first owned by the Marquis of Aguayo, then by the S?nchez-Navarro family who held it until the Reform, when it was divided into different properties. It has always been a land of hard working people. Nowadays, it is noticeable to see that most income-generating people are women, since the majority of men go to the United States looking for work. The town has a ludoteca, where children learn traditional songs, painting and arts and crafts. Just opposite of the ludoteca is a dining place for old folks.
Narigua
Until recently,
traditional archaeology had not paid much attention to petroglyphs (from the Greek petros, ?rock? and glyphe ?engraving?). Nowadays, petroglyphs are starting to be studied in order to interpret the symbolism and the uses given by early man. Recent studies refer to the art of rocks as something even more important than the above. Petroglyphs could have been used to narrate people?s history and as possible lunar calendars (synodical of 206-207 days), which coincide with the gestation period of the white-tailed deer (highly important animal of the region).
Nothing significant is found on the upper part of the mountains. The rock engravings are on the mountain?s base and exactly on the highest part of the valley?s north side, we find what seems to be an oratory. Despite this discovery, much work is needed to find the remaining petroglyphs.
At the end of the day, we visited the abandoned shell of Narigua hacienda, whose Gothic-detailed church is remarkable. The people are kind but tough, as they seem to be in harsh places like this. It is interesting that the families of all our interviewees had been in this town for at least three generations, which makes us wonder just how nomadic their ancestors really were. Was the region really a corridor for nomadic tribes between North and South Arid-America? Was there an important civilization in the zone, which had other ways of expressing their culture? If they left no trace in the traditional forms, will our knowledge of them remain limited?
http://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/english/historia/prehispanica/detalle.cfm?idsec=1&idsub=12&idpag=1467
