FINDING LOST CIVILIZATIONS This

ird, or perhaps a headdress. I asked the young lady aboutthe artist, but all she could tell me was that the artist wasfrom the State of Nayarit and that the figurehead in the gallerywas called “Cabezza Palenque.” This figure is one of themost well-known Mayan sculptures,which was found in the Temple ofInscription, in the town of Palenqueof the Mexican State of Chiapas. Shealso showed me a photograph of theartist in his studio standing next toanother large figure he was workingon. I almost bought the figurehead,as the price was actually quite reasonable.However, I wanted to knowmore about the artist and his work before I committed to apurchase. The young lady said that the owner would be inthe gallery the following week and that she had all the informationabout the artist.Several days later my father, our friend Rafael, and Idecided to drive to the towns of Compostela and San PedroLagunillas to look at some land that was for sale. The routefrom the coastal town of Guayabitos to Compostela takesyou on a slow, winding mountain road that rises to a thousandmeters as it enters Compostela. I have taken that routemany times and I was always impressed by the sheer mountainsidecliff, which is very prominent as the road begins itsdownward slope to the valley whereCompostela is situated. When wecame abreast of the sheer cliff I toldmy father and Rafael that one dayI wanted to climb to that mountainpeak because I felt it was a site theancients revered. One of the things Ihad noticed is that very old civilizationsthat worshiped the elements orgods of the heavens, skies, sun, andearth would often construct temples and designate sacredgrounds in areas with breathtaking vistas. That imposingmountaintop with its sheer cliff wall was unique and I felt itwould be a grand place to commune with the gods.Upon arriving to Compostela we parked in the townsquare and noticed we were adjacent to a small museum. Ilove these small-town Mexican museums because they havea down-to-earth feeling that exudes a genuine atmosphere.31