Before starting his investigations into the
prehistory of Mexico in October 1945 Dr.
Helmut de Terra
established his reputation as a distinguished
geologist, paleontologist and physical anthropologist
in the Himalayas, India, Burma, China, Java and the
United States. He undertook three major expeditions
in southern Asia in the late 1920s and 1930s. In
Asia, he worked with Dr. Hallam Movius (later Curator
of the Peabody Museum at Harvard), Fr. Pierre
Teilhard de Chardin (Jesuit paleontologist,
philosopher and mystic) and Dr. Ralph von Koenigswald
(discoverer of Java Man). In 1947, de Terra
discovered Tepexpan Man near the town of Tepexpan,
Texcoco, Acolpan, at the time the earliest human
remains found in the New World. In his work in Mexico Dr.
de Terra was assisted by Arturo Romano, later
professor and director of the National Museum of
Anthropology, Dr. Luis Aveleyra Arroyo de Anda,
archaeologist, anthropologist and pioneer in
prehistoric and prehispanic studies of Northern
Mexico, Alberto Arellano, geologist and engineer and
Javier Romero, physical anthropologist. The Viking Fund, now the Wenner Gren Foundation, supported his investigations in Mexico. Dr. de Terra
was a close friend of Miguel Covarrubias, and also
knew David Alfaro Siqueiros, Diego Rivera and William
Spratling.
From 23 August 2007 until at least late 2009 the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) of the State of Mexico will pay homage to Helmut de Terra and his life and times, especially related to his work in Mexico in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This exhibition is at the Tepexpan Museum built over the site of the 1947 discovery. This exhibition makes use of information, documents and materials that have recently been brought to the attention of INAH by Dr. de Terra’s son, Niels de Terra of Querétaro, Mexico. Preparation of the Exhibition was undertaken by Margarita del Olmo (INAH Physical Anthropologist in charge of the Tepexpan Museum) and Javier Manzola, Anthropologist.
YOU ARE INVITED
Who: The opening ceremony took place on August 23, 2007 at the Tepexpan Museum at 17:00. The exhibition will remain open to the public until mid-2008.
What: The ceremonial opening of the Helmut de Terra exhibition was carried out by the Director of INAH for the State of Mexico assisted by Niels de Terra, son of Helmut de Terra, and by his grandsons, Kieran and Conor de Terra.
Where: Tepexpan Museum.
Access by public transport; Metro to Indios Verdes Station and then there is a frequent bus service from the Metro to Acolman/Teotihuacan. The bus will stop in front of the Museum.
Access by car: Toll road to Teotihuacan from Mexico City or click here for directions. . Click here for a map of the area.
This website was produced by Thomas Wheaton, archaeologist, in collaboration with Niels de Terra.
From 23 August 2007 until at least late 2009 the National Institute for Anthropology and History (INAH) of the State of Mexico will pay homage to Helmut de Terra and his life and times, especially related to his work in Mexico in the late 1940s and early 1950s. This exhibition is at the Tepexpan Museum built over the site of the 1947 discovery. This exhibition makes use of information, documents and materials that have recently been brought to the attention of INAH by Dr. de Terra’s son, Niels de Terra of Querétaro, Mexico. Preparation of the Exhibition was undertaken by Margarita del Olmo (INAH Physical Anthropologist in charge of the Tepexpan Museum) and Javier Manzola, Anthropologist.
YOU ARE INVITED
Who: The opening ceremony took place on August 23, 2007 at the Tepexpan Museum at 17:00. The exhibition will remain open to the public until mid-2008.
What: The ceremonial opening of the Helmut de Terra exhibition was carried out by the Director of INAH for the State of Mexico assisted by Niels de Terra, son of Helmut de Terra, and by his grandsons, Kieran and Conor de Terra.
Where: Tepexpan Museum.
Access by public transport; Metro to Indios Verdes Station and then there is a frequent bus service from the Metro to Acolman/Teotihuacan. The bus will stop in front of the Museum.
Access by car: Toll road to Teotihuacan from Mexico City or click here for directions. . Click here for a map of the area.
This website was produced by Thomas Wheaton, archaeologist, in collaboration with Niels de Terra.
