National Museum of Anthropology Crash Course

Alejandro Cañas-Ortiz is an archaeologist born and raised in Mexico City. When he was 8 years old, he became interested in pre-Colombian civilizations, especially after his parents took him to an excursion in Teotihuacan, as well as some different archaeological collections in the country. He has a MA in Mesoamerican Studies from National Autonomous University of Mexico, where he researched the interaction between Teotihuacan and the Maya. He is also versed in Maya hieroglyphs, a passion that began when he was an undergraduate at National School of Anthropology and History. He gained experience as an expert guide while researching prestigious collections, such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Templo Mayor Museum, and National Anthropology Museum. Additionally, his research has been published in academic peer-reviewed books. Whether at an archaeological site or in a museum of antiquities, Alejandro looks forward to sharing his devotion and knowledge about pre-Colombian cultures with travelers on Context tours in Mexico City.

Born and raised in Mexico City, David is an Etnohistorian graduated from the National School of Anthropology and History, who's field of expertise is "folk" or "popular" religion which encompasses the different processes of syncretism that appeared in Mexico with the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadors and gave rise to different traditions that show a clear fusion and assimilation between the Catholic religion and Mesoamerican religiosity. He's also worked in the Historical Archive of the National Astronomical Observatory and the Digital University Collections Center, both at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM.