Chiapas Congress awards Rosario Castellanos medal to archaeologist Fanny López

Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chis. The discoverer of the Red Queen of Palenque in 1994, Fanny López Jiménez, was awarded the Rosario Castellanos Medal 2024, which is awarded by the Congress of the state of Chiapas to distinguished women and men in the arts, science, and humanity; In addition, she was awarded the Eminent Degree of Virtue by Governor Rutilio Escandón, in a solemn and historic session on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the death of the Chiapas writer.

I humbly accept this award on behalf of the women of Chiapas.Lopez Jimenez said.

His merit was to get one right hunch in 1994, that the remains stained with cinnabar, found in the sarcophagus in the substructure of Temple XIII of Palenque, were those of a woman.

This archaeological discovery has a certain gender discrimination in the profession, which is also a dark one (paraphrasing Rosario Castellanos, because she works underground), since López Jiménez reminded those attending the Congress headquarters that he defended the identity of the woman in the remains over the contrary opinion of his peers, because the tomb belonged to a dynasty of men. He told them: Well, it must be the night watchman, but I think it’s a woman.and this was later confirmed by studies carried out by the physical anthropologist Arturo Romano.

The strongest link

In his speech, which began with the recitation of Self-portrait, The award winner asked: “Why is it so hard to admit that a woman is as capable or more than any man? I would like to see a professional do the same as a woman and also take care of children, the home, manage the emotional life of the family and stay up all night caring for the elderly and the sick.

“Let’s see, why? It seems incredible that we cannot realize that women are the strongest and the weakest link in society. Stronger, because our energy, intelligence, ability, empathy, tenacity and creativity have historically been responsible for the reproduction of the family, society and life.

Weaker, because our needs have been made invisible, ignored, minimized and scrimped on, in particular and in general, in public and in private, by individuals and States, institutions and governments.

He concluded: That is why, in Chiapas, the public agenda has an outstanding debt with its tireless and dedicated women..

Hence her desire to give women in archaeology their true identity, for which the research she is carrying out for her doctorate is directed towards archaeology with a gender focus; the ideal purpose should be to bring to light the forgotten woman, assigning her her true role in the society of the past, and to re-examine the role of man, in order to demystify the social activities that the prevailing androcentrism granted to her. The award winner said that she hopes to explain the role played by women in the Classic Maya, particularly those of the nobility.

With 30 years dedicated to her profession, climbing mountains and working ancient land, deciphering hieroglyphics and identifying colors from the prehistory of her state, López Jiménez narrated her family origins and her dream of becoming an archaeologist, and of continuing to investigate the pre-Hispanic past of Chiapas, Of which I feel I am the heir, with the sole purpose of understanding who we are and what our place is in this world..

The eighteenth medal bearer acknowledged that she was not an early reader, as books were not accessible to her, and that not all women have the privilege of reading; she shared that the first book she read by Rosario Castellanos was Office of darkness, that the It deeply moved me, not in intellectual terms, but in human terms.; it went from sadness to the pain of the characters, to rage, to helplessness and indignation, he said.

She acknowledged that she had never read anyone describe so accurately the oppression and contempt to which indigenous people were subjected, and the mistreatment and abuse of women, indigenous and ladinos alike, who were victims.

He cited poets such as Mikeas Sanchez, Ruperta Bautista, Adriana Lopez, Enriqueta Lunes and Juana Karen Peñate, among whom It should not be seen as an exception, but as a common rule.he said.

With a smile, she recalled the anecdote with Dr. Carlos Navarrete, who, seeing that Fanny López was carrying the book Woman who knows Latin, He told her: Women who read this work should be afraid.