[Aztlan] preservation question
Carlos Rincón Mautner
carmecol at hotmail.com
Fri Jul 11 11:51:04 CDT 2008
Good morning Kelly:
Preserving documents under the conditions you've described would be a challenge and could be costly if done high tech. The low-tech approach would be to keep them dry, in a cedar or pine box, and use common sense in terms of handling, i.e. clean hands preferably with clean cotton gloves to prevent skin oils from touching the surfaces further, displaying them or using them on clean surfaces, keeping insects and rodents from having access to the leather and fabric. If the documents are indeed valuable you might consider purchasing a small refrigerator just for the purpose of storing them. In this way, you might be able to counter the high humidity and high temperatures at low cost. Ventilation is also key and you need to watch out for fungal or bacterial growth.
The bottom line is to restrict the use of the originals and, going forward, to encourage and allow viewing or work to be carried out on these documents from the digitized images you have made.
There are document restorers/conservationists at INAH's Churubusco center. Perhaps you or Mr. Maya could approach their offices for some guidance. The Archivo General de la Nación in Mexico City might also be able to provide some orientation. They might recommend mothballs or some other insecticide, but I would check with someone who is experienced in this matter before trying anything like a spray.
Since you are in the States, you might check with the conservators at several libraries with important rare book collections, for example the Newberry Library in Chicago, the Benson Library at UT-Austin, Princeton, Yale and even the Library of Congress may be able to provide you with some guidance. Tulane's Latin American Collection might be just the place since it too has similar heat and high humidity conditions. At Austin, I seem to recall that conservation was not done at the library, but elsewhere on campus.
I wish you success in your endeavors and look forward to seeing the images of these codices.
Sincerely,
Carlos
> From: mcdo0030 at umn.edu
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 12:06:31 -0500
> Subject: [Aztlan] preservation question
>
> I've sent queries to local museums, but am wondering if any listeros might
> be able to steer me in the right direction regarding a preservation
> question.
> I am writing my dissertation on Mexican Indigenous Cultural Production and
> am temporarily in possession of four codices written / painted by a Nahua
> artist (Idelfonso Maya) who asked that I digitalize the books. I will be
> returning them to him in August, and would like to deliver them in a manner
> which might ensure/assist in their preservation. The books are painted on a
> fabric and tied to goat skin. They are several decades old and already
> showing the effects of being stored in the hot/humid Huasteca region.
> Could anyone suggest a contact or resource for me? I'm in Minnesota.
>
> Kelly McDonough
> University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
> Department of Spanish & Portuguese Studies
> 612/626-7784
> mcdo0030 at umn.edu
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org [mailto:aztlan-bounces at lists.famsi.org]
> On Behalf Of aztlan-request at lists.famsi.org
> Sent: Wednesday, July 09, 2008 12:00 PM
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Subject: Aztlan Digest, Vol 32, Issue 9
>
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> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Re: "SECRET CAVE" under Teotihuacan Sun Pyramid (Katherine Reece)
> 2. NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO ON MOCHE TOMB AT UCUPE (michael ruggeri)
> 3. FROM ERIK BOOT-STOLEN COLUMBIAN ANCIENT ART OBJECTS RETURNED
> (michael ruggeri)
> 4. POSSIBLE CONFUSION OVER TEOTIHUACAN TUNNELS OR CAVES
> (michael ruggeri)
> 5. 4 CEREMONIAL VESSELS FOUND CUSCO (michael ruggeri)
> 6. Maya, Mesoamerica (Randa Marhenke)
> 7. Maya, Mesoamerica--Pre-Script (Randa Marhenke)
> 8. Re: POSSIBLE CONFUSION OVER TEOTIHUACAN TUNNELS OR CAVES
> (John B. Carlson)
> 9. THE TUNNELS UNDER THE PYRAMID OF THE SUN (michael ruggeri)
>
>
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> Message: 1
> Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 10:36:23 -0500
> From: "Katherine Reece"
> Subject: Re: [Aztlan] "SECRET CAVE" under Teotihuacan Sun Pyramid
> To:
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Bertrand is also correct about the unfortunate, but understandable,
> errors that some reporters make. On the flip side, some reporters have
> VERY selective hearing and don't hear any of the 'woulds', 'coulds', or
> 'according to current evidences' that we use so much and splash flashy
> statements in their articles that don't reflect archaeological knowledge.
>
> Ben Carter
>
>
>
> Then there are reporters who go for the sensational. In Egyptologist Kent
> Weeks' book The Lost Tomb he writes about speaking to a reporter about his
> rediscovery of Tomb KV5 in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. While
> discussing the tomb, Weeks mentioned that its pillared hall was one of the
> largest ever found. The reporter asked Weeks if he found any colored balls.
> For obvious reasons Weeks was confused. The reporter then asked if billiard
> halls were common in ancient Egypt. Weeks tried to correct the reporter who
> commented: 'Billiard hall? Pillared hall? What difference does it make? Who
> cares? Besides, it makes a better story'.
>
> Kat Reece
>
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> Message: 2
> Date: Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:42:18 -0500
> From: michael ruggeri
> Subject: [Aztlan] NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC VIDEO ON MOCHE TOMB AT UCUPE
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
>
> Listeros,
>
> National Geographic has posted a short video on the Moche tomb at Ucupe;
>
> Mike Ruggeri
>
>
> http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2008/07/080708-discovery-
> video-ap.html
>
> Tiny URL;
> http://tinyurl.com/6kglw3
>
>
>
> Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Andean World
> http://tinyurl.com/2o79jy
>
> Mike Ruggeri's Andean Archaeology News and Links
> http://community-2.webtv.net/Topiltzin-2091/MikeRuggerisAndean/
> index.html
>
> Andean and Amazonian Archaeology Discussion Group
> http://tinyurl.com/2fnzpm
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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> Message: 3
> Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 19:20:04 -0500
> From: michael ruggeri
> Subject: [Aztlan] FROM ERIK BOOT-STOLEN COLUMBIAN ANCIENT ART OBJECTS
> RETURNED
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
>
> FROM ERIK BOOT
>
> In todays edition of the Mexican newspaper El Universal
> (http://www.eluniversal.com.mx/notas/520985.html):
>
> Devolver? EU a Colombia 66 piezas prehisp?nicas - Fueron sacadas
> ilegalmente del pa?s sudamericano y entre los objetos se encuentran
> figuras er?ticas y vasijas con forma de animales
>
> EFE - El Universal - Miami Martes 08 de julio de 2008
> 14:42 Estados Unidos entreg? hoy al Gobierno colombiano 66 piezas
> precolombinas, incluyendo 16 esmeraldas, que fueron extra?das
> ilegalmente de la Naci?n andina y decomisadas en el sur del estado de
> Florida.
>
> La recuperaci?n de las piezas arqueol?gicas colombianas tra?das de
> contrabando a EU se logr? durante una investigaci?n efectuada por la
> Oficina de Inmigraci?n y Control de Aduanas (ICE) y el alguacil del
> condado de Broward, al norte de Miami.
>
> Los artefactos recuperados provienen de las culturas Nari?o y Tairona
> que datan de hasta 500 a?os antes de Cristo, seg?n anunciaron hoy en
> conferencia de prensa las autoridades de EU.
>
> Anthony Mangione, agente especial a cargo de la oficina de
> investigaciones del ICE, inform? en la conferencia de prensa que en
> septiembre del 2005 se arrest? a Ugo Bagnato, venezolano con
> ciudadan?a italiana, a quien le confiscaron las piezas.
>
> Bagnato se declar? culpable de vender y recibir mercanc?a robada y fue
> sentenciado a cumplir 17 meses de prisi?n. En julio del 2007 las
> autoridades lo deportaron a Italia.
>
> Alexander Alonso, asistente de Mangione, revel? a Efe que mientras
> Bagnato cumpl?a con su condena, el Instituto Gemol?gico de Am?rica,
> con sede en San Diego (California), se comunic? con ICE para informar
> que el acusado les hab?a dado unas esmeraldas para su tasaci?n.
>
> Tras esta informaci?n y un estudio de las gemas realizado por la
> Universidad de Maine, las autoridades pudieron establecer que las
> esmeraldas proced?an de la misma fuente que los objetos precolombinos.
>
> "Cada esmeralda tiene agujeros peque?os que indican que fueron
> taladradas con el prop?sito de crear un collar", se precis?.
>
> El acta de repatriaci?n de las piezas fue firmada por Diego Herrera,
> director del Instituto de Antropolog?a de Colombia, y por Mangione de
> ICE.
>
> La recuperaci?n de este patrimonio cultural se efectu? de acuerdo al
> Memorando de Entendimiento suscrito entre Colombia y Estados Unidos
> que proh?be la importaci?n, exportaci?n y transferencia de material
> arqueol?gico de culturas prehisp?nicas.
>
> Los 66 objetos, entre los que hay piezas de oro, figuras er?ticas,
> vasijas con forma de animales, anillos de oro que se usaban en la
> nariz y figuras de plata, ser?n enviadas a Colombia la pr?xima semana
> a Bogot? mediante una empresa colombiana.
>
> Herrera dijo que es "muy posible que las piezas vayan al Museo
> Nacional de Colombia".
>
> El C?nsul General de Colombia en Miami, Luis Ignacio Guzm?n, dijo a
> Efe que "esta entrega de piezas arqueol?gicas demuestra la
> colaboraci?n entre dos naciones".
>
> Las piezas "muestran parte del patrimonio nacional que fue robado y
> que debe regresar para ser colocado como lo que es: un patrimonio de
> la naci?n al servicio de la educaci?n, investigaci?n y orgullo de un
> pueblo", destac?.
>
> A Bagnato tambi?n se le incautaron 412 piezas precolombinas de Per?,
> incluyendo una vasija de cer?mica de 3 mil 500 a?os, una de las
> mayores recuperaciones de piezas arqueol?gicas peruanas tra?das de
> contrabando a este pa?s.
>
> Los artefactos peruanos, entregados al Gobierno de Lima el a?o pasado,
> provienen de las culturas Mochica, Chim?, Chancay y Cuspinique y datan
> de mil 500 a?os antes de Cristo.
>
> El C?nsul colombiano coment? a Efe que "aqu? hay una lecci?n para
> todos los que participan en el tr?fico cultural de los pueblos, que
> ese tr?fico no paga, deja muchas p?rdidas y como consecuencia la
> c?rcel".
>
> Agradeci? en nombre del Presidente de Colombia, ?lvaro Uribe, la
> entrega de las piezas y resalt? que para los colombianos "es una
> constante el apoyo que nos brinda Estados Unidos en varios aspectos:
> en la protecci?n de nuestro patrimonio y en la cooperaci?n mutua de la
> lucha contra las drogas y el delito".
>
>
> Cheers,
> Erik
>
>
> Erik Boot's Ancient Mesoamerican News Updates
> http://ancient-mesoamerica-news-updates.blogspot.com/
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> Message: 4
> Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 19:31:21 -0500
> From: michael ruggeri
> Subject: [Aztlan] POSSIBLE CONFUSION OVER TEOTIHUACAN TUNNELS OR CAVES
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes; format=flowed
>
> Listeros,
>
> The recent exchanges about the Teotihuacan tunnel below the Pyramid
> of the Sun created some understandable confusion. There are two
> tunnels in question. One is the 330 foot lava tube below the pyramid
> which has always been open for investigation. Even as we speak, there
> is a muon detector in place in that cave trying to ascertain whether
> there might be other hidden chambers within the pyramid. They were
> having trouble with the equipment and there has not been a report on
> the findings yet.
>
> And then there is another tunnel below the pyramid which is 200 feet
> long which Kim has told us is man made and which is now opened after
> 30 years and is being investigated.
>
> These are two different tunnels in question.
>
> Kim may be able to give us further info on the muon detector experiment.
>
> Mike Ruggeri
>
>
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> --**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**
>
> Message: 5
> Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 22:40:15 -0500
> From: michael ruggeri
> Subject: [Aztlan] 4 CEREMONIAL VESSELS FOUND CUSCO
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes;
> format=flowed
>
>
> Listeros,
>
> Archaeologists have found ceremonial artifacts at the Killarumiyoc
> site near Cusco. They comprise four decorated vessels used for ritual
> purposes. It is unusual that they have been found in a terrace.
>
> Andina has the short report here with a photo;
>
> http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/Noticia.aspx?id=60DVcUdeSLM=
>
> Here is a tiny URL;
> http://tinyurl.com/59q7vk
>
> Mike Ruggeri
>
>
>
> Mike Ruggeri's The Ancient Americas Breaking News
> http://web.mac.com/michaelruggeri
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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>
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> Message: 6
> Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 19:11:24 -0700
> From: Randa Marhenke
> Subject: [Aztlan] Maya, Mesoamerica
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
>
> 1.For Proskouriakoff's "Maya Sculpture":
> http://www.mesoweb.com/publications/Proskouriakoff/Proskouriakoff.html
>
>
>
> 2.For photo index on Mesoweb:
> http://www.mesoweb.com/photo/index.html
> Great photos here, including from Morley's "Inscriptions of Peten"
>
>
>
>
> 3.For Peqafiel's "Catalogo Alfabetico":
> http://books.google.com/books?pg=PA4&dq=Catalogo+alfabetico+de+los+nombres+d
> e+lugar&lr=&id=9W4SAAAAYAAJ&as_brr=1
>
> or (thanks, if this works, to Dave Pentecost):
> http://tinyurl.com/6yachk
> That tinyurl ought to work--I've tried it, it worked for me, but I am still
> amazed. If it doesn't work for you, blame me. If it works for you, give
> credit to Dave Pentecost for explaining it clearly to a person ignorant of
> computer ways.
>
> Enjoy those sites,
> Randa
>
>
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>
> Message: 7
> Date: Tue, 8 Jul 2008 19:49:49 -0700
> From: Randa Marhenke
> Subject: [Aztlan] Maya, Mesoamerica--Pre-Script
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
>
> Sorry about that--the first bit of my last note didn't get scanned by me
> into
> the post. I meant to explain that those were very interesting and/or useful
> sites.
>
> Randa
>
>
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>
> Message: 8
> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 01:29:22 -0400
> From: "John B. Carlson"
> Subject: Re: [Aztlan] POSSIBLE CONFUSION OVER TEOTIHUACAN TUNNELS OR
> CAVES
> To: michael ruggeri , aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed"
>
> Hello Mike,
>
> I think there is still a lot of misinformation out there regarding
> the "cave" or "tunnel" beneath the Pyramid of the Sun. I believe the
> confusion persists. Perhaps you or someone (Kim?) could cite the
> relevant publications or notices that clarify this situation
> regarding TWO caves or tunnels. The one that I know about, and have
> been inside of, was found in modern times, around 1970, I believe. (I
> haven't checked my notes, but I believe the exact date of discovery
> is not precisely known... at least it is not in print.) It was first
> described by my friend and colleague, the late Doris Heyden. The
> "cave" had been entered and looted in ancient times, including
> "explorations" by the "Aztecs", as well as in the 20th century. In my
> mind there is still a question as to what aspects of this "cave" were
> natural and what parts were modified by the Teotihuacanos, because it
> clearly had been heavily worked. It has never been properly studied
> with full archaeological investigations and reports and the results
> of the current project(s) will be most welcome. There are several
> hypotheses that have been proposed as to the function of this cave
> and new results will help to test them, I am sure.
>
> Yes, there are 20th-century archaeological tunnels in the pyramid,
> but I am not sure that the details of the several projects -- in
> progress now -- have been sorted out yet by what has been said. I
> hope someone who knows can clarify this.
>
> And Mike... thanks for all of your great reporting for the AZTLAN
> list. What you do is greatly appreciated,
>
> John Carlson
>
>
>
> At 7:31 PM -0500 7/8/08, michael ruggeri wrote:
>>Listeros,
>>
>>The recent exchanges about the Teotihuacan tunnel below the Pyramid
>>of the Sun created some understandable confusion. There are two
>>tunnels in question. One is the 330 foot lava tube below the pyramid
>>which has always been open for investigation. Even as we speak, there
>>is a muon detector in place in that cave trying to ascertain whether
>>there might be other hidden chambers within the pyramid. They were
>>having trouble with the equipment and there has not been a report on
>>the findings yet.
>>
>>And then there is another tunnel below the pyramid which is 200 feet
>>long which Kim has told us is man made and which is now opened after
>>30 years and is being investigated.
>>
>>These are two different tunnels in question.
>>
>>Kim may be able to give us further info on the muon detector experiment.
>>
>>Mike Ruggeri
>>_______________________________________________
>>Aztlan mailing list
>>http://www.famsi.org/mailman/listinfo/aztlan
>>Click here to post a message Aztlan at lists.famsi.org
>>Click to view Calendar of Events
> http://research.famsi.org/events/events.php
>
>
> --
>
>
> --**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**
> --**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**
>
> Message: 9
> Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2008 09:08:06 -0500
> From: michael ruggeri
> Subject: [Aztlan] THE TUNNELS UNDER THE PYRAMID OF THE SUN
> To: aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> Message-ID:
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; delsp=yes;
> format=flowed
>
> John and Listeros,
>
> Here is an article I posted at the time on muon detectors being used
> in Belize and at Teotihuacan inside the 330 foot lava tube under the
> Pyramid of the Sun.
>
> http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/9179/title/
> Muons_Meet_the_Maya
>
> Tiny URL;
> http://tinyurl.com/6b49t7
>
>
> And an article I posted in 2004 about the muon detector experiment in
> the tunnel underneath the Pyramid of the Sun from Physics Today
>
> http://scitation.aip.org/journals/doc/PHTOAD-ft/vol_57/iss_2/31_1.shtml
>
> Tiny URL;
> http://tinyurl.com/5e5tb2
>
>
> There was also a program on "Digging for the Truth" on cable which
> took us to the Muon detector inside the Pyramid of the Sun and walked
> us through the lava tube.
>
> So the main tunnel has been open since its discovery in 1971. The
> other tunnel that was just re-opened after 30 years is a different
> tunnel and as Kim pointed out, is man made.
>
> Mike Ruggeri
>
>
> Mike Ruggeri's Teotihuacan; City of the Gods
> http://tinyurl.com/2nrs9d
>
>
>
>
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>
>
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>
>
> --**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**
> --**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**--**
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> _______________________________________________
> Aztlan mailing list
> Click here to send a message Aztlan at lists.famsi.org
> http://www.famsi.org/mailman/listinfo/aztlan
>
>
> End of Aztlan Digest, Vol 32, Issue 9
> *************************************
>
> _______________________________________________
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