Cuilapan de Guerrero

The Cuilapan area has been settled by humans since 1500 BCE with a sedentary village established by 500 BCE. These sedentary peoples developed activities such as weaving, pottery and stonemasonry, with permanent houses, ceremonial structures and tombs. The society here grew and stratified over time and eventually a simple writing system came into existence. The Spanish found a thriving community with formidable political, economic and social organizations. The original Mixtec settlement was at the foot of a hill in this area, but the modern town was established by Fray Domingo de Oguinaga and Zapotecs in 1551, with the founding of the monastery of Saint James. This monastery was a major center of evangelization efforts in the early colonial period in the central valleys region of Oaxaca, although it was never finished. However, one major effect the monastery had was to move the population center from the original Mixtec settlement to one surrounding the monastery. The decline of Cuilapan began in the 16th century, when the population fell from 43,000 in the 1520s to 7,000 in 1600. Construction of the massive basilica and monastery was halted by the 1570s, and was never finished. The town received a visit by Pope John Paul II in 1979. The federal government plans a homage to Vicente Guerrero in the community on February 14, 2021. ==The town==

Today, the town of Cuilapan is primarily Mixtec with just over 11,000 people, filled with brightly colored public buildings and a shady central plaza. It is a very quiet town, with only isolated persons or small groups of people on the streets. It is nothing like the bustling pre-Hispanic and early colonial city it used to be, maintaining only a fraction of its former population and prestige. Cuilapam is the origin of the Danza de la Pluma and is known for the making of the elaborate headdresses which are worn by the dancers. This dance is one which is featured at the annual Guelaguetza event held in Oaxaca city in July. During festivals and in the markets common dishes such as moles such as negro, rojo coloradito, verde and amarillo as well as tasajo, tlayudas, tamales wrapped in banana leaves and cegueza (ground corn and baked with barbacoa similar to a dumpling) can be found. Beverages include atole with chocolate, hot chocolate, tejate (drink made with mamey seeds, corn, cocoa and a flower called Rosita de cacao), horchata and hibiscus tea. ==The ex monastery of Santiago Apóstol==

The former monastery still defines the town and is the major attraction for visitors. The fortress-like complex is easily seen from the highway as one travels south from the city of Oaxaca towards Zaachila, and it is visited by both Mexican and international tourists. The complex is located on a small hill which gives it a view of much of the valley area. Built of green quarried stone and river rocks, it is a quiet place where footsteps can echo in the hallways. The decorative work of the monastery, especially its murals, are important because they show a systematic blending of indigenous elements into the Christian framework, done in order to support the evangelization process in the local Mixtec and Zapotec peoples. The single-naved church is used for worship but the roofless basilica and cloister are under the control of INAH, which uses many of the second floor rooms of the cloister as workshops for restoration projects and runs a small museum with important liturgical items from the 16th century. ==The municipality==

As municipal seat, the town of Cuilapan is the governing authority for more than thirty-five other named communities, the largest of which include Cruz Blanca, Carrizal, Manzano and Tiracoz. The municipal population is 15,041 (2005) with just under seventy five percent living in the town proper. The municipality covers an area of 49.75 km2 and borders the municipalities of San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, Villa de Zaachila, Santa Cruz Xococotlan and San Raymundo Jalpan. The valley is surrounded by the densely forested mountains of the Sierra Madre del Sur. The terrain is steep and rocky with the main source of water being a branch of the Atoyac River. The climate is temperate and mostly dry with most rain falling in summer and fall. Wildlife consists of rodents and small reptiles. Some larger species such as the armadillo are in danger of extinction. The soil is highly susceptible to erosion. About sixty percent of the population is dedicated to farming with principal crops being corn, beans and alfalfa. Thirty percent raise livestock such as pigs, cattle, goats, horses and domestic fowl. About ten percent travel to work in Oaxaca city and some residents are employed as guides at the nearby Monte Albán site. ==References==