Attacking Pseudoarcheology

I just finished reading a book I had purchased at a used bookstore in Ohio before I made the move to Mexico.  The book is entitled "Frauds, Myths, and Mysteries - Science and Pseudoscience in Archaeology".  The author, Kenneth L. Feder, is a professor emeritus of archaeology at Central Connecticut State University.  I bought it because I have long been fascinated by archaeology, especially the pre-Hispanic civilizations of Mexico. 

The book is now in its tenth edition (I picked up the seventh edition), and it is now required reading in archaeology classes at some colleges.  Although the book is rigorously researched, the author adds humor and anecdotes to make it enjoyable reading even for the layman.

Feder tears apart the outrageous claims that have been made about ancient civilizations.  For example, the popular belief in the 19th century that the Native Americans were the descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel has absolutely no basis in fact from the archaeological record.  He refutes claims that the remains of Noah's Ark rest on top of Mount Ararat and of the existence of the Lost Continent of Atlantis.  He debunks the veracity of the Shroud of Turin.

I especially enjoyed how he went after Erich von Daniken, whose wildly popular 1970 book, "Chariots of the Gods", claimed that civilizations such as the Mayas were visited by ancient astronauts from outer space.  Back when I was teaching, when I would do a unit on the pre-Hispanic civilizations in my advanced classes, I would mention the preposterous theories of von Daniken.  One thing which I would always mention, and which Feder cites in his book also, is the lid of the sarcophagus of the Mayan king of the city of Palenque.  Von Daniken claimed that it shows an astronaut seated at the controls of his spaceship.

(image taken from the internet)

Anyone with any knowledge of the Mayas would be able to tell you what is pictured on this stone... and now that Mayan hieroglyphics have been deciphered, we know with even greater certainty.  King Pakal of Palenque is shown at the moment of his death, poised between the jaws of the monster of the underworld and the celestial tree leading to the heavens.

The author mentions something else that I always thought, and which I expressed in the classroom.  These fanciful theories that ancient civilizations developed because of extraterrestrial visitations smack of racism, the idea that non-European peoples could never have developed their civilizations on their own without the help of ET.

If you have any interest in archaeology, I recommend this book.

Construction Postscript

There was one construction project that I should have included in my last post, but I was on the wrong side of the street to take a good photo.  Today I was walking on the OTHER side of the avenue and saw a good spot for a picture.

The project in question is yet another building of luxury condos.  It is called "La Torre Havre" (it is located on the corner of Insurgentes and Havre), and when completed it will be 16 stories high with 30 apartments.  It is very modern in design, but the facade of an old art deco building has been incorporated into the design.  (You'll remember, I said that facades of buildings of historic or artistic value must be preserved.)

I have written about this construction project before.  If you have a really good memory, you might remember these photos that I posted in January of 2022...

Someone with a strange sense of humor had put a giant pair of female legs in high heels and fishnet stockings on the ledge of the art deco building.

Well, the legs are no longer there, but the ultra-modern design is starting to take shape above the older facade.

Construction Everywhere

I have frequently written about construction projects here in Mexico City and given progress reports on the skyscrapers that are going up.  Last week I took one of my long walks, going from downtown all the way back to the apartment.  I stopped to take photos along the way of the many structures that are being built.

Along Juárez Avenue is this apartment building that is being built on the site of a structure that was heavily damaged in the 2017 earthquake.

This is an artist's rendition of what the project, called "Juárez 56", will look like upon completion.

According to the project's website, there will be 72 apartments.  The building is geared toward investors, and there will be the option of offering short term rentals.  In other words there will probably be a lot of Airbnbs popping up here in the future.  The first three floors will be occupied by a Porrúa Bookstore.  (Porrúa is a chain of bookstores, and they had a branch here in the building that was demolished.)  On the fourth floor there will be a restaurant.

I wonder what will happen to this once lovely building which is located next door, and which is now an empty shell.

The building (I would guess it dates from the 19th century) is probably on the city's list of structures of historic or artistic value.  If it is, any project on this property will have to incorporate the facade of the old building.

Down Juárez Avenue another project with a rather unusual design is progressing.

It stands on the site of a government office building which, after a fire and damage in the 1985 earthquake, stood abandoned for years, an enormous eyesore on one of the city's major streets.  The building was finally demolished, and supposedly the property was going to be sold, and a private project with a high rise of apartments, offices and stores was going to be built.  However, the President decided not to sell the property, and this building is going to house offices of the Secretariat of Agricultural Development.

Turning onto Paseo de la Reforma, I spotted this site of a future project.

The lot is not that large, but look at the picture of the proposed project.  The website says that it is going to be a 39-story tower of condos which they advertise as the "highest in luxury and quality of life".

Close to Paseo de la Reforma is this building, Be Grand Reforma, which I have shown you before.  

This 50-story office and condo tower is now complete. I'm sure you can buy an apartment here for a small fortune, but the view will surely be spectacular.

Another high rise of luxury living that I have shown you before is University Tower.

Construction of this building will be completed next year, but it appears to have reached its final height of 57 stories.  Their most expensive condos will cost around 2 million in U.S. dollars... a bargain, I suppose if you are used to New York City prices. 

In the Zona Rosa neighborhood, not far from Paseo de la Reforma, the Liv Reforma apartment building is under construction.

When completed it will be a mere 12 stories high with 185 apartments.

 Heading down Insurgentes Avenue, at the corner of Baja California Avenue, is this brand new apartment building called "Conjunto Insurgentes 454".  The 16 story building has 319 apartments.

A large taco restaurant has already opened on the ground floor.

Continuing down Insurgentes, close to home is an apartment complex that we pass every time we head out for breakfast on a Sunday morning.  When completed, the 11-story building will have 199 apartments.

Finally just across the street from the World Trade Center is a building project called "Alure Insurgentes".  It will be 20 stories tall and have 90 apartments.

For a long time, it seemed that the project was stalled.  But now the building is starting to rise.

What I worry about is how all these apartment complexes are going to be filled.  Mexico City may need housing, but how many luxury condos does it need?  Also, all these new high rises are going to further strain the resources of the city, especially the supply of water. 

Supper with a Blogger

Last Saturday was the Gay Pride Parade in Mexico City, an annual event which draws hundreds of thousands of participants and spectators.  The rain, which has been a daily occurrence for nearly two weeks, fortunately held off until after the parade was over.

Alejandro and I did not attend the parade, but later in the evening we went to the Monument of Independence along the Paseo de la Reforma, the starting point of the parade.  There were still large numbers of people along the boulevard, and the monument was illuminated in rotating rainbow colors.

(I had forgotten my camera, so Alejandro took these photos with his cell phone.)

Our purpose in going there was to meet with Alfredo, the author of the blog "El Rancho Santa Clara", and his husband Stew for supper.  We had never met, but I have been reading Al's blog for quite a few years.  (You will find a link to it at the right-hand margin under "My Blog List".)   Al and Stew have been together for fifty years and retired to Mexico fifteen years ago. They own a "rancho" outside of San Miguel de Allende.  When I commented on one of his recent blog entries, he asked me if I would like to get together when they came to Mexico City for the Pride Parade.  So, we made plans to meet for supper after the parade.

I choose "Fondo del Recuerto", a restaurant specializing in the cuisine of the state of Veracruz, as our meeting place.  You might remember that I wrote about eating there a while ago, and that I thought the food was very good.  Since, it's not far from the hotel where Al and Stew were staying, I figured that it would be a good place to meet.

I had made reservations ahead of time for 8 PM.  We arrived a bit early, and Al and Stew showed up right on time.  I did not think my meal was as good as on my previous visit, but the company and conversation were excellent.  We were there for two hours until closing time.

Stew to the left and Al to the right

When I told them about some of the places and events in Mexico City, they said that they will have to visit the city more often.  I told them that I would thoroughly enjoy playing "tour guide".  It was a delightful evening, and we look forward to seeing them again in the future!

 

Beryl Is on Its Way, Chris is Already Here

Beryl, the first hurricane of the season, has reached a dangerous category 4 level as it reaches the islands of the eastern Caribbean.  By the early hours of Friday morning, it is expected to reach the shores of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula.  On this view from Google Maps, you can see Beryl at the far right.  I drew a line indicating its route to Yucatán.

After crossing Yucatán, the storm could intensify over the Gulf of Mexico again.  However, regardless of its course, it would not make it over the mountains to Mexico City.  All we will get is rain.  However, as you can see, we don't have to wait for Beryl for more rain.  All of southern and central Mexico is covered in clouds.  Last night, it rained much of the night.  Look at this morning's radar image...

What I did not even realize is that this rain is coming from the third named storm of the season, Chris.  The storm briefly achieved the status of a tropical storm last night over the Gulf of Mexico (and thus received a name).  It made landfall on the coast of Veracruz and brought as much as eight inches of rain to some areas.  As it crossed over the mountains, it quickly weakened into a tropical depression.

Rain is forecast for most of the week, but I am not complaining.  The rain is needed to fill our reservoirs. 

 

Welcome to July

July is here, and it is time to show you this month's picture on the calendar that I made for 2024.  

 Juan O'Gorman (1905-1982) was the son of an Irish immigrant and a Mexican mother.  He was an architect and painter.  His most famous work is the stone mosaic murals which cover all four sides of the ten story Central Library of the National University of Mexico.

The small town of Chalma, pictured in this painting, is 60 miles to the west of Mexico City.  The sanctuary in the village contains a venerated image of Christ, and the Chalma is the second most important pilgrimage site in the country.  If you look closely, you can see the crowds of pilgrims in the streets, as well as a bus arriving with more worshippers.

Speaking of calendars, I had already created my 2025 calendar on Shutterfly.  I ordered six of them to be delivered to my private mailing address in Mexico City.  These are the calendars that I want to take with me to Switzerland to give as presents to my cousins.  This is the first time that I have had a package sent to my address.  On June 24th I received an email telling me that the calendars were on their way to Mexico.  Amazingly, just three days later, I received another email telling me that they had arrived.  Last Friday I went to the office and picked up my box from Shutterfly.

The box had been opened by Mexican customs and taped back together.  They even took one of the calendars out of its clear plastic bag to inspect.  I hope they enjoyed looking at my pictures.  But the calendars arrived without damage, and in a couple of months they will be headed with me to Europe.

Of course, you will have to wait until next year to find out what the theme of the 2025 calendar will be.