Stone Carvers Carry on Tradition in Mexico
2023-08-28
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1On most Sundays, the sound of hammers and other tools hitting stone can be heard in the burial area of ancient Xochiaca.
2It is a village in the Chimalhuacan area, on Mexico City's east side.
3The sounds come from stone carvers who still work on a craft that has been passed down for generations - even after the local source of stone was used up.
4The village burial area, or cemetery, is filled with meter-high statues of religious figures and other beautiful stone objects.
5Generations of stone carvers in Chimalhuacan also created much of the stonework found on buildings and parks in the capital's downtown.
6While carvers in other areas long ago turned to mechanical devices, the workers here use only hammers and other special hand tools.
7Many are self-taught, but some, like Tomás Ugarte, age 86, learned in the traditional way.
8This method of rock cutting has been passed down between family members, dating back about five generations.
9The rock cutters are generally older. There were about 600 official stone carvers about 10 years ago.
10Now, there are probably only around 300, said Carolina Montesinos Mendoza of the state office that supports traditional skills.
11The carvers are dying and their children generally do not want to take up the trade.
12Still, the stone carvers keep the old traditions alive.
13Many people in the area use stone mortars and pestles made by the stone carvers.
14Known as "molcajetes" in Spanish, these bowl-like objects are the basic tool for making salsas.
15Rev. Alberto Sandoval, who has known the stone workers since 1990, described them as "the backbone of the community."
16Most of the carvers have individual work areas at home, which provide them with some money.
17They sell carvings for prices ranging from $500 to $2,000. But the stone carvers often do not sell much.
18Unlike many craftspeople who want to see their works shown in museums, the carvers here work free of charge to create and maintain carvings for the local cemetery.
19They also work for free at decorating and repairing the stonework at the 250-year-old local church, Santa María de Guadalupe.
20One of the earliest signs of the stone carvers' work is a carved stone on the ground reading "Xochiaca, home of the stone carvers." It does not have a date.
21The writing talks about a time when the lake that once covered much of the valley still touched Xochiaca.
22Builders would come looking for carvings and ship them to Mexico City on ships over the lake.
23Juan Alfaro Bastidas, 75, is a carver, just as his father and grandfather were.
24He remembers going into the rock mines, or quarries, by candlelight to get blocks of stone.
25But the quarries are just a memory now.
26The land where the quarries stood was sold for housing developments.
27Now, the carvers truck in stone from other states to the north and to the west, but sometimes from as far away as the southern state of Yucatan.
28They get some help from the local government and local people.
29"The neighbors have helped us out with donations of 100 or 200 pesos ($6 to $12). The people of the town buy the stone," said Bastidas.
30Asked if the trade will survive, carver Mario Olivares read a poem written on the church wall: "Your art, your tradition, your culture and the nobility of the people keep the soul of this town alive."
31I'm John Russell.
1On most Sundays, the sound of hammers and other tools hitting stone can be heard in the burial area of ancient Xochiaca. It is a village in the Chimalhuacan area, on Mexico City's east side. 2The sounds come from stone carvers who still work on a craft that has been passed down for generations - even after the local source of stone was used up. 3The village burial area, or cemetery, is filled with meter-high statues of religious figures and other beautiful stone objects. 4Generations of stone carvers in Chimalhuacan also created much of the stonework found on buildings and parks in the capital's downtown. 5While carvers in other areas long ago turned to mechanical devices, the workers here use only hammers and other special hand tools. 6Many are self-taught, but some, like Tomás Ugarte, age 86, learned in the traditional way. This method of rock cutting has been passed down between family members, dating back about five generations. 7The rock cutters are generally older. There were about 600 official stone carvers about 10 years ago. Now, there are probably only around 300, said Carolina Montesinos Mendoza of the state office that supports traditional skills. The carvers are dying and their children generally do not want to take up the trade. 8Still, the stone carvers keep the old traditions alive. Many people in the area use stone mortars and pestles made by the stone carvers. Known as "molcajetes" in Spanish, these bowl-like objects are the basic tool for making salsas. 9Rev. Alberto Sandoval, who has known the stone workers since 1990, described them as "the backbone of the community." 10Most of the carvers have individual work areas at home, which provide them with some money. They sell carvings for prices ranging from $500 to $2,000. But the stone carvers often do not sell much. 11Unlike many craftspeople who want to see their works shown in museums, the carvers here work free of charge to create and maintain carvings for the local cemetery. 12They also work for free at decorating and repairing the stonework at the 250-year-old local church, Santa María de Guadalupe. 13One of the earliest signs of the stone carvers' work is a carved stone on the ground reading "Xochiaca, home of the stone carvers." It does not have a date. 14The writing talks about a time when the lake that once covered much of the valley still touched Xochiaca. Builders would come looking for carvings and ship them to Mexico City on ships over the lake. 15Juan Alfaro Bastidas, 75, is a carver, just as his father and grandfather were. He remembers going into the rock mines, or quarries, by candlelight to get blocks of stone. 16But the quarries are just a memory now. 17The land where the quarries stood was sold for housing developments. 18Now, the carvers truck in stone from other states to the north and to the west, but sometimes from as far away as the southern state of Yucatan. 19They get some help from the local government and local people. 20"The neighbors have helped us out with donations of 100 or 200 pesos ($6 to $12). The people of the town buy the stone," said Bastidas. 21Asked if the trade will survive, carver Mario Olivares read a poem written on the church wall: "Your art, your tradition, your culture and the nobility of the people keep the soul of this town alive." 22I'm John Russell. 23Fabiola Sanchez and Gerardo Carrillo reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English. 24Words in This Story 25carve - v. to make a sculpture or design by cutting off pieces of the material it is made of 26craft -- n. : an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands 27mortar- n. a heavy, deep bowl in which seeds, spices, etc., are pounded or crushed with a heavy tool (called a pestle) 28pestle - n. the heavy tool that goes with a mortar 29museum - n. a building in which interesting and valuable things are collected and shown to the public 30decorate - v. to make (something) more attractive usually by putting something on it 31nobility - n. the quality or state of being noble in character or quality