Alfonso Caso
Encyclopedia
Alfonso Caso y Andrade was an archaeologist
who made important contributions to pre-Columbian
studies in his native Mexico
. Caso believed that the systematic study of ancient Mexican civilizations was an important way to understand Mexican cultural roots.
His notable discoveries include the excavations at Monte Albán
, in particular "Tomb Seven", in which several gold pieces and offerings were found (now shown in the Regional Museum of Oaxaca
). He also discovered many sites in the Mixtec
a (a region in the state of Oaxaca), such as Yucuita
, Yucuñudahui and Monte Negro. As well as discovering new sites Caso also sought to interpret them, establishing the chronology of Monte Albán
history, and deciphering Mixtec codices
.
Throughout his life Caso wrote books about native Mesoamerican cultures, including those of the Olmec
, Mixtec
, Zapotec, and Aztec
. He was one of the first to recognize the Olmecs as the earliest Mesoamerica
n civilization
, declaring that they were the "cultura madre" (Mother culture) of Mesoamerica. His argument has subsequently been debated by Mesoamerican archaeologists; it is currently unclear how the Olmec interacted with other Mesoamerican cultures.
in philosophy
in 1918, became a lawyer
in 1919, and an archaeologist in 1925. He studied in the National Autonomous University of Mexico
(UNAM) and eventually became a teacher there. He taught epistemology from 1918 to 1928, Mexican archaeology from 1929 to 1943, and general ethnology
from 1930 to 1933. He also taught Philosophy of the Right in Jurisprudence (1918-1939) and Mexican archeology in the National School of Archeology. Caso became a member of the Colegio Nacional
on April 8, 1943. He also won the National Science Price.
One of the more notable events in the academic and political life of Alfonso Caso was his appointment as Rector of the UNAM for 1944-1945. During this period he formulated the "Organic University law" in which he established the autonomy of the UNAM. He also played the role of Secretary of National Goods and Administrative Examination from December 10, 1946 to December 31, 1948.
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
who made important contributions to pre-Columbian
Pre-Columbian
The pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history and prehistory of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the American continents, spanning the time of the original settlement in the Upper Paleolithic period to European colonization during...
studies in his native Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. Caso believed that the systematic study of ancient Mexican civilizations was an important way to understand Mexican cultural roots.
His notable discoveries include the excavations at Monte Albán
Monte Albán
Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca...
, in particular "Tomb Seven", in which several gold pieces and offerings were found (now shown in the Regional Museum of Oaxaca
Oaxaca
Oaxaca , , officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca is one of the 31 states which, along with the Federal District, comprise the 32 federative entities of Mexico. It is divided into 571 municipalities; of which 418 are governed by the system of customs and traditions...
). He also discovered many sites in the Mixtec
La Mixteca
La Mixteca is a cultural, economic and political region that covers parts of the states of Puebla, Guerrero and Oaxaca in south-central Mexico....
a (a region in the state of Oaxaca), such as Yucuita
Yucuita
Yucuita is an archaeological site located in the Mixtec municipality of San Juan Yucuita in the Mexican state of Oaxaca...
, Yucuñudahui and Monte Negro. As well as discovering new sites Caso also sought to interpret them, establishing the chronology of Monte Albán
Monte Albán
Monte Albán is a large pre-Columbian archaeological site in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán Municipality in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca...
history, and deciphering Mixtec codices
Codex
A codex is a book in the format used for modern books, with multiple quires or gatherings typically bound together and given a cover.Developed by the Romans from wooden writing tablets, its gradual replacement...
.
Throughout his life Caso wrote books about native Mesoamerican cultures, including those of the Olmec
Olmec
The Olmec were the first major Pre-Columbian civilization in Mexico. They lived in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, in the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco....
, Mixtec
Mixtec
The Mixtec are indigenous Mesoamerican peoples inhabiting the Mexican states of Oaxaca, Guerrero and Puebla in a region known as La Mixteca. The Mixtecan languages form an important branch of the Otomanguean language family....
, Zapotec, and Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
. He was one of the first to recognize the Olmecs as the earliest Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica is a region and culture area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and...
n civilization
Civilization
Civilization is a sometimes controversial term that has been used in several related ways. Primarily, the term has been used to refer to the material and instrumental side of human cultures that are complex in terms of technology, science, and division of labor. Such civilizations are generally...
, declaring that they were the "cultura madre" (Mother culture) of Mesoamerica. His argument has subsequently been debated by Mesoamerican archaeologists; it is currently unclear how the Olmec interacted with other Mesoamerican cultures.
Academic life
Caso received a master's degreeMaster's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
in 1918, became a lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
in 1919, and an archaeologist in 1925. He studied in the National Autonomous University of Mexico
National Autonomous University of Mexico
The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México is a university in Mexico. UNAM was founded on 22 September 1910 by Justo Sierra as a liberal alternative to the Roman Catholic-sponsored Royal and Pontifical University of Mexico The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) (National Autonomous...
(UNAM) and eventually became a teacher there. He taught epistemology from 1918 to 1928, Mexican archaeology from 1929 to 1943, and general ethnology
Ethnology
Ethnology is the branch of anthropology that compares and analyzes the origins, distribution, technology, religion, language, and social structure of the ethnic, racial, and/or national divisions of humanity.-Scientific discipline:Compared to ethnography, the study of single groups through direct...
from 1930 to 1933. He also taught Philosophy of the Right in Jurisprudence (1918-1939) and Mexican archeology in the National School of Archeology. Caso became a member of the Colegio Nacional
Colegio Nacional
The National College is a Mexican honorary academy with a strictly limited membership created by presidential decree in 1943 in order to bring together the country's foremost artists and scientists, who are periodically invited to deliver lectures and seminars in their respective area of speciality...
on April 8, 1943. He also won the National Science Price.
One of the more notable events in the academic and political life of Alfonso Caso was his appointment as Rector of the UNAM for 1944-1945. During this period he formulated the "Organic University law" in which he established the autonomy of the UNAM. He also played the role of Secretary of National Goods and Administrative Examination from December 10, 1946 to December 31, 1948.
Selected works
- El teocallí de La Guerra Sagrada (monograph) (1927)
- Las estelas zapotecas (1928)
- La religión de los aztecas (1936)
- Las exploraciones de Monte Albán, (3 volumes, 1931-1937)
- Calendario y escritura de tas Antiguas culturas de Monte Albán (1947)
- El mapa de Teozacoa1co (1949)
- El pueblo del Sol (1953)
- Interpretación del Códice Gómez de Orozco (1954),
- Urnas de Oaxaca (1956)
- Los calendarlos prehíspánicos (1967)
- El tesoro de Monte Albán (1969)
- Reyes y reinos de la Mixteca (2 volumes, 1977-1979).