Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas

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Chiapa de Corzo is a small city and municipio (municipality) situated in the west-central part of the Mexican state of Chiapas. Located in the Grijalva River valley of the Chiapas highlands, Chiapa de Corzo lies some 15 km (9.3 mi) to the east of the state capital, Tuxtla Gutiérrez. The city had a 2005 census population of 37,627 and serves as municipal seat of the municipality of the same name, which has an area of 906.7 km² (350.08 sq mi) and reported a population of 73,552 inhabitants.

It was originally inhabited by the Soctona ethnic group and its name at that time was Soctón Nandalumí.^{[citation needed]} The Soctona were the only ones who didn't surrender during the Spanish conquest, resisting several armed expeditions until the campaigns of Pedro de Alvarado when they were defeated and almost exterminated.

The first Spanish attampt to conquer the area was led by Luis Marin in 1524 and it ended in failure. Diego Mazariegos commanded a second invasion in 1528 and his force finally succeeded in overcoming fierce resistance. Facing defeat, many of the Indians chose death instead of surrender. As the Spanish closed in, many jumped to their deaths in the Canon del Sumidero.1

1 History
2 Notes
3 References
4 External links

[edit] History

The Chiapas highlands region has been inhabited since at least the Archaic period of Mesoamerican history. The nearby pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archaeological site, also known as Chiapa de Corzo, shows evidence of continual occupation since the Early Formative period ( ca. 1400 BCE). The mounds and plazas at the Chiapa de Corzo archaeological site date to approximately 700 BCE with the temple and palace constructed during the Late Formative, perhaps 400 BCE to 200 CE.^[1]

The oldest Mesoamerican Long Count calendar date yet discovered, December 36 BCE, was found on one of several monuments here. Chiapa de Corzo is also notable for a pottery sherd containing what is likely Epi-Olmec script -- dated to as early as 300 BCE, this sherd would be the oldest instance of that writing system yet discovered.^[2]

In colonial times, Chiapa de Corzo was the indigenous capital of Chiapas, which is why it was called the Chiapa of the Indians, as opposed to the "Chiapa of the Spaniards", San Cristóbal de las Casas, which was inhabited almost entirely by criollos. Over time, this apartheid system has been disappearing, and the city has a much greater mixture of ethnicities now.

Today, the city is visited by a large number of tourists who come to see the nearby Canon del Sumidero, the Pila(a fountain built by the Spanish in the 16th century), and other sites.2

[edit] Notes

^ Lowe, p. 122-123.
^ Justeson, p. 2.

[edit] References

Link to tables of population data from Census of 2005 INEGI: Instituto Nacional de Estadística, Geografía e Informática
Chiapas Enciclopedia de los Municipios de México
Justeson, John S., and Kaufman, Terrence (2001) Epi-Olmec Hieroglyphic Writing and Texts.
Lowe, G. W., "Chiapas de Corzo", in Evans, Susan, ed., Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America, Taylor & Francis, London.

1. Moon:Yucatan Peninsula by Liza Prado and Gary Chandler. 2. Ibid.