Regional Museum, Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Zihuatanejo Regional Museum

The regional archaeological museum, or Museo Regional de la Costa Grande, contains hundreds of local artifacts as well as extensive maps and information.

The museum is located on Plaza Olaf Palme along the Paseo del Pescador (Fisherman's Walk) in downtown Zihuatanejo, next to the bridge over flood control canal leading to Playa Madera.

Open from 10am to 6 pm, Tuesday thru Sunday. Telephone: 755-554-7552.

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Visit the Soledad de Maciel Archaeological site

Pottery and figurines from Tierras Prietas, circa 800-100 B.C. Excavation of this site suggests tattooing and skull deformation were in fashion

Figurines from La Soledad de Maciel, near Petatlan. The participation of women is highlighted by their elaborate costumes in many pieces dated from A.D. 200 to A.D. 700.

Zihuatanejo was once known as Cihuatlan or "place of women" which refers to the western paradise of the Nahuatl universe, home of the "Goddess Women". Legends say the goddess women rose in the afternoon to lead the sun to the dusk where the sun entered Mictlan, the world of the dead, to give a dim light to the dead.

Room 1 of the museum displays artifacts from settlements established on the coasts of Jalisco, Nayarit, Colima and Guerrero.

Room 2 houses ceramics and carvings from the area of Cerro de la Madera, in Zihuatanejo, among others.

Room 3 features the TIerras Prietas site, the cultivation of food plants and use of natural resources such as the bajareque techique of walls made of interwoven bgranches and clay.

Room 4 covers aspects of village life and cultural exchange from 200 to 750 A.C.; the introduction of ball games and new pottery techniques.

Room 5 - The Mexicas conquered the Costa Grande area between 1487 and 1503 AD. The province of Cihuatlan was established, and tribute was paid to the conquerers by the local populations in shells, chocolate, basketry and textiles.

Room 6 covers the search for a maritime route to the west during the 16th and 17th centuries, during which time the ports of Zihuatanejo and Acapulco were important points of reference for Spanish and other navigators.

Native blowing conch shell horn
Man blowing a conch shell horn in the Mexia style.

The conquest of the Costa Grande area was completed by the Mexia Indian tribe between 1487 and 1503.

This, combined with the following Spanish conquest, was a great blow to local Indian culture.

Natural stone water filter
This stone water filter was made about 300 years ago in what is now Tecpan and weighs over 200 kilograms (440 pounds).

Water is placed in the bowl and slowly seeps through the rock, leaving impurities behind.

Pottery and figurines
Pottery and figures from the La Soledad de Maciel archaeological site located near Petatlan .

This era was marked by trade with the Teotihuacan culture and worship of Aztec Gods

This cannon, dated 1762, is from pirate William Draper's vessel which burned and sank in Zihuatanejo Bay. It was discovered by local divers and donated to the museum.

Necklace of clay, stone and shell beads Shell necklace from La Soledad de Maciel.