Dr. Julio Amador Bech
Getting Down and Dirty with Rock Art Recording
We were so pleased this month to welcome Dr. Julio Amador Bech of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México to Shumla. Julio is a full professor and has been a researcher in Mexican Cultural Anthropology and Archaeology for over 40 years. He has dedicated the last 16 years to the study of rock art of northwestern and central Mexico.
Julio has been a friend and collaborator with Shumla for many years. Several of Julio's students have been interns at Shumla including names you'll recognize from previous eNews - Diana, Elsa, and Kathia. Julio and UNAM hosted Carolyn Boyd and Vicky Roberts in 2015. Carolyn lectured at UNAM for three days and then Julio and his team gave Carolyn and Vicky an experience of a lifetime visiting places like Chalcatzingo, Xochicalco, and Teotihuacan. In addition,
Julio and Carolyn are collaborating on a book currently titled
Rock Art, Myth, and Ritual: Cultural Interactions from Mesoamerica to the American Southwest
. It will be an edited volume including chapters from both US and Mexican scholars.
All this, and yet, Julio had never been to Shumla. Boy, did we make up for lost time! We took him to eight rock art sites in one week all along the Pecos and Devils Rivers.
He also worked with the Shumla team to record a Red Linear site in Seminole Canyon State Park.
We can't wait for Julio's next visit!
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