They try to save “The buried chapel”, a mystery that reveals Mexico

Mexican restaurateurs worked hard to save “The Buried Chapel”a construction of uncertain history that mixes pre-Hispanic and colonial charactersbut with structural damage that threatens the heritage and the possibility of solve your mystery.

With the hills of the municipality of Zapotitlan Salinas in the central Mexican state of Puebla as guardians, the building, which is located as the oldest of the religiosity of the New Spain erait is inaccurate, due to the lack of data that could reveal its origin.

According to specialists, due to the physical structure and the paintings found inside, it is assumed that the building may have been built in the 16th century; however, in one of the rooms there is a painting with pre-Hispanic characteristics, even if some studies and analyzes have not yet been able to match it.r the relationship of the two epochs.

Paintings and versions

In a tour made by Efe, on the ceiling of the largest room you can see the hand-made paintings, directly on the walls, in what would be the top altar, where you can see Jesus surrounded by angels and only traces of a hole in which a gigantic stone cross could have risen.

In other pictures, specialists believe that it is the figure of a Judasbecause he carries the coins in his hands and a bag where he kept them, as described in the biblical passages.

While in another you can see what the souls of the gods would be purgatorywhich are human bodies that try to get out of the fire, as well as others that refer to the Catholic Via Crucis.

The members of the assembly of Zapotitlan told, through the stories of the inhabitants themselves, that space it was used for many years as a salt shakerdue to the fact that there are several salt flats around it.

However, with an earthquake it collapsed and they stopped using it, so nature took over every space when the earth entered, causing damage to the walls.

Among the residents it is said that the chapel was ransacked by foreigners, who took most of the paintings that were on the walls and there are traces of cuts in the wall that are the same size.

Maintenance works

Primitivo Pablo Cortés, representative of Zapotitlán Salinas, revealed that urgent maintenance work was carried out on the property a few weeks ago.

In addition, special mixtures were injected to preserve the walls, a mixture of sand, mud and lime was also placed in some places where the paints were torn to prevent pieces of the wall from falling or continuing to be damaged by humidity.

“The idea of ​​the restorers is that it remains the same, they have already started looking for very old photos and people respond, they send photos because for many years they have seen how it was, since there were arches, it was very well done, so now they have the information and that’s how they intend to do it, “the rep said.

Meanwhile, Miguel Martínez Mendoza shared that he participated as a restorer mason, performing cleaning and debris removal actionsas a first attention.

He later erected a bar to support a damaged wall through which rainwater filtered, which was damaging the interior of the chapel, and placed two steps and fixed a small fence over the front door that had been washed away.

“He dug up until he found the solid part of the earth and from there he started breaking it down with stone,” he said.

He reported it the most difficult thing is to put the stone of the structures and welcome them with a special mixture of sand, mud and kiln limewhich are materials that do not damage the chapel.

“Serious structural damage”

Meanwhile, the director of the Center of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) Puebla, Manuel Villarruel Vázquez, shared that this site has “severe structural damage, but is stable, protected and protected” and is a problem on the table. of properties that need to be saved “.

“We are waiting for the associations involved to obtain the resources to present their project to INAH for the next phase and to obtain the relevant authorization to continue the relief work,” he said.

He stressed that there are associations that dialogue with the community to organize financial agreements, mainly through the Yo Restauro Patrimonio organization, from which he hopes to obtain resources for the restoration of the chapel.

Villarruel said they work through fundraising, through online donations and then “when they have new capital they can present a project to the institute, so that the institute will recommend them and give them permission to continue working.”

The work done in these days was carried out by Norma García Huerta, restorer of the Yo Restauro Patrimonio association.

EFE