“There are also four small pyramids and two caves with ancient petroglyphs located upon an area known as El Cerro de Los Brujos...”
For those interested in the history and archeology of Mexico while vacationing here, there is a small magical village named La Cholle (La Soledad de Maciel) on the way to Petatlán from Zihuatanejo. There is no road sign to indicate its whereabouts and no public transportation reaches it. A dirt road, 5 miles long, provides access to the settlement of some 600 souls, built alongside a river. The local economy rests upon farming, raising of cattle and the production of coconuts.
La Cholle is one of three main archeological sites within the state of Guerrero. According to Señor Salvador Jaimes, a well-known and recognized local author, several Pre-Hispanic ethnic groups such as Tolimecas, Chimecas, Pantecas, Cuitlatecas, Purepechas (among others) were established within the area between Lazaro Cardenas, Michoacan and Acapulco.
Research made by Mexican archeologists indicate that these ethnic groups were here as early as 1,500 B.C. and numbered as many 90,000. The first artifacts were discovered in the 1950’s. The famed stone monolith used in ball games, one sees immediately upon arriving in Petatlán was found at La Cholle. Likewise, the round stone wheel that represents Tlahtecuhtli, the God of the Earth, also known as “the sacred monster,” a highly symbolic figure of a man-animal with monkey or alligator features, is from La Cholle.
In front of the Catholic church in La Cholle (once used as a school) stands a five foot tall stone statue, engraved with symbols of an Olmec King, El Rey Sacerdote Pacificator. A local guide showed us many artifacts unearthed there-stone and clay beads, necklaces, water receptacles and dishes, grinding stones and small clay figurines or women’s faces and torsos. Señor Jaimes explained to us that those beads were used as objects to barter with (objectos de comercio) between this area and other mesoamerican regions. The figurillas known as “mujer bonita,” pretty woman, were used primarily as a means of communication, identifying the bearer’s ethnic status and geographic origins. There were also placed around the graves of the departed providing safe passage to the other side. Further, these fertility figures were also distributed around newly planted fields to insure successful crops. Those mask-like clay pieces are usually found during the rainy season as the soil absorbs the rain and loosens the earth.
There are also four small pyramids and two caves with ancient petroglyphs located upon an area known as El Cerro de Los Brujos (the hill of the magicians or sorcerers). In actuality, these men were high priests whose knowledge was passed on orally from one generation to the next. Another interesting rarity is a large protruding rock dotted with two dozen circular holes on its surface. Similar ones are found throughout the northern California foothills where the local Maidu Indians used them to grind acorns. However, at La Cholle, Señor Jaimes speculates that their use was possibly that of a religious or ceremonial nature.
While there, I was approached by several children selling artifacts, asking upwards to $100 each. We could have bought hundreds of dollars worth-everyone is selling. According to Señor Jaimes, the Mexican government is aware of the problem – it is a federal offense to sell or purchase these ancient artifacts, but little is effectively being done to prevent this illegal pillage of national treasures. In order to alleviate these abuses, Señor Jaimes has suggested to government authorities the creation of a small museum there where artifacts could be displayed for all to appreciate – for a modest admission fee. After all, La Cholle was known long ago as a ceremonial center. For tours and information about La Cholle, Señor Jaimes can be found at the travel agency on the corner of Nicolas Bravo and Cuauhtemoc, next to the movie theater on the pedestrian walk.
-April 2000
