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Enciclopedia de los Municipios de Mexico
About the galleries- In the 1980's and 90´s I made a number of trips to this region. During which time I was able to visit these villages. Unfortunately the video and the photos taken have been lost in the din of time. However the images of the textiles can be appreciated. There was so much more to report from the region and this of course means I will be traveling back to the region in the next few years.

MIXTECOS / ÑUU SAVI -

The Mixtec call themselves the Ñuu Savi which means the "people of the clouds". They live primarily in the State of Oaxaca, with some in the States of Guerrero, and Puebla. They are one of the largest groups in Mexico with more than 500000 people. There are 189 municipalities located in the districts of Silacayoapan, Huajuapan, Juxtlahuaca, Coixtlahuaca, Nochixtlán, Teposcolula, Tlaxiaco, Putla y Jamiltepec there are 14 other districts with a minor presence in other areas. There are many different ecologies ranging from high mountain to coastal plains. Historically the Mixtec are divided into Alta ( 1700 meters) and Baja or Coastal regions . These textile galleries will divide the Mixtec into these regions plus a separate one for the Mixtec of Guerrero. According to the 1990 census about 400000 people still spoke Mixtec, according to the Summer Institute there are at least 25 dialects including Cuicatecos and Trique, and Amusgo.

The Mixtec are believed to have begun habitation of the region 6000 BC and began developing there towns around 700 BC. The period between 300 AC to 1000 AC cities and ceremonial centers were built along with the development of state religion and the organization of the state by city, town and village. There are 96 know archeological sites in the region. There was contact between the Mixtec and Xochicalco and Teotihuacán (the great ceremonial centers of commerce and culture in central Mexico). The Mixtec had a system for writing that are some of the best preserved they include the codices Víndobonensis, Nuttall, Bodley, Selden, Rollo Selden, Teozacualco y Nativitas.Click to enlarge!