Anastacio Alegría
I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Don Patterson in San Miguel de Allende about his remarkable career in Mesoamerican archaeology, which spanned from the 1970s to the early 2000s. Over three decades, he worked at more than 150 archaeological sites across Mexico and Central America, becoming a specialist in archaeological illustration and meticulously documenting pre-Hispanic art through detailed drawings and photographs.
Beginnings in Mexico
Patterson arrived in Mexico in 1970 at age 27 to study sculpture under Lothar Kestenbaum at the Instituto Allende. Kestenbaum gave him his first book on the Maya—an encounter that changed his life. While earning a Master of Fine Arts, he met and married Marisela García de la Sota. They later had a daughter, Jessica. After graduation, Patterson taught painting and drawing at the institute. But local discoveries of ancient artifacts soon led him to archaeology.
Key Excavations
One of his favorite projects was in Yaxchilán, Chiapas, where he helped uncover the throne of Bird Jaguar III, ruler of the city in the 8th century AD. “As my brush revealed the carved stone, I knew I was witnessing something extraordinary,” he recalled.
Shifting Landscape
Patterson witnessed a turning point in 1973, when new legislation empowered INAH (Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History) to crack down on looting and protect national heritage. Landmark discoveries, like the Coyolxāuhqui Stone and Templo Mayor, renewed pride in Mexico’s pre-Hispanic past.
Legacy in San Miguel
He later collaborated with INAH on the Archaeological Atlas of Guanajuato, leading to the discovery of Cañada de la Virgen. His autobiography, Journey to Xibalba, was published in 2007. He also promoted environmental causes, including the Municipal Green Fund.
Don Patterson passed away on June 2, 2025, leaving an enduring legacy in archaeology and heritage preservation.
