Method of Study

A study of MCII has focused on the document as a map or cartographic record. Our "work-shop" is in the field, doing an examination of surface features in context with relative positions. This cartographic analysis turns on features like mountains, hills, caves, mineral deposits, mines, canyons, passes, gorges, plains, rivers, streams, ponds, flora, ritual circuits, secular roads, archeological sites, towns, etc. The criteria or rule for this study are proportion, size, color, shape, elevation, distance, and direction.

An inspection of MCII has been aided by Gerald A. Eberwein. He is an expert on maps and their decipherment. He has worked for the US Army, US Department of State, US Treasury Department, and later assigned to the US Army Intelligence Center. He is now retired and a student of the map.

Advisors to the MCII "work-shop" offer these comments:

A Cartographic interpretation would be improved by using the MCII "place signs". Smith (1973) describes these "place signs" as logographic representations of names of places, in which each significant pictorial element of the sign represents one or more words.

Place signs usually have two components:

1. a geographical substantive, such as "town", "hill", "river" or "plain".
2. a qualifying element, such as a bird, plant, animal, color and so on.

   Our answer to "place signs" or locative glyphs is that we desire to test the MCII manuscript against its topography or "surface features". Later, a comparative analysis can be made with the toponymns.

   We're reminded that "Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca" by Paul Kirchhoff, Lina Odena Guemes, & Luis Reyes García (1976, 1989) and also "Cuauhtinchan del Siglo XII al XVI" by Luis Reyes García (1988) are important sources in the interpretation of the Map of Cuauhtinchan.

   Of Course, two publications essential to an examination of MCII are:

   "Los Mapas de Cuauhtinchan y la Historia Tolteca-Chichimeca&34;, by Bente Bittman Simons (1968), INAH, México, D.F., and "Los Mapas de Cuauhtinchan y la Historia Cartográfica preHispanica", by Keiko Yoneda, (1981, 1991), CIESAS, México, D.F.

   It is suggested that an interpretation of MCII can be aided by a study of Mesoamerican cosmology.

   It is proposed that MCII sites be compared with archaeological (positional) astronomy. Some ritual circuits (roads) follow an azimuth of solar and stellar rise/set positions.

   It has been pointed out that for this "work-shop", the name "Mesoamerican Caves - Cuevas Mesoamericanas" is not feasible. Perhaps a better term might be "Caves of Central Mexico - Cuevas en Mexico Central" or "Caves of MCII - Cuevas de MCII".

   And finally, in regards to the Maps of Cuauhtinchan, a leading scholar is the anthropologist keiko Yoneda. A letter addressed to her, dated November 4, 1998, is cited:

   Por medio de la presente, quiero dar mil gracias a la Mtra. Keiko Yoneda, agradeciendo sus asesorías académicas realizadas de septiembre de 1997 a octubre de 1998, para la redacción de dos manuscritos sobre los glifos toponímicos y el aspecto cartográfico del Mapa de Cuauhtinchan No. 2: "Map of Cuauhtinchan No, II" y "First Draft", resultados de la investigación realizada por la fundación. Como parte de este estudio, la fundación está organizando un taller académico (academic workshop & interactive workbook) de investigación en donde los especialistas de diversas áreas puedan contribuir al estudio de éste mapa; y ademáas, establecer un medio de comunicación con especialistas de otros países, para lo cual estamos formando una página (web site) en internet, en donde se presentarán los avances en el estudio y será nuestro medio de interacción académica.

   (signed)

   Presidente
   Fundación de Investigaciones Mesoamericanas.