Maya Adventure
The Maya of Cancuc
Maya of Cancuc
The textiles of Cancuc, a remote, Tzeltal-speaking community, were
plain at the beginning of this century. As economic conditions improved and
commercial yarns became available, the women of Cancuc began to add rows of
colorful heddle brocade to the breasts of men's shirts and women's
huipiles. These squares of brocade and the overall shape of the garments
are reminiscent of the Aztec costume of the 16th century. Aztec traders
from Central Mexico journeyed into the Chiapas Highlands in the 15th
century, and Aztec communities settled in Chiapas at the time of the
Spanish Conquest in the mid 1500's.
Science Museum of Minnesota