El Consejo de Arqueología (the Council of Archaeology) for INAH, the federal agency that oversees ancient ruins in Mexico, has told the state of Yucatan that it will not permit a concert at Chichen Itza by Spanish tenor Placido Domingo, according to the news organization El Universal.

The council, however, is only an advisory body which issues recommendations that either can be ratified or ignored. And according to the state of Yucatan, it already has permission from INAH to hold the concert, and will make a formal announcement on Wednesday.

On May 22 Council President Roberto García Moll, an archaeologist, issued a letter denying the request on four grounds (as interpreted from the Spanish by me):

First, none of the options presented for the concert’s logistics would overcome the impact on the site, which is described as “fragile.”

Second, Chichen Itza cannot handle at present the current number of visitors, in addition to pollution and other destructive forces, hence why INAH and other agencies are currently working on a comprehensive management plan.

Third, the plan to hold the concert on what is called the Grand Platform, the massive leveled area that surrounds El Castillo, the Temple of Warriors and the Great Ball Court, would be contrary to basic preservation and protection of the zone.

Finally, the concert will complicate the government’s relationships with the private owners of the land underneath the monuments of Chichen Itza, who could make demands for civil and commercial matters.

The competition between commercial and public interests has long been a battle at Chichen Itza. See the previous post, “All This, Over Pavarotti?” linked below.

Previously:

INAH Mum on Placido Domingo Concert at Chichen Itza

Placido Domingo to Sing At Chichen Itza October 4

Pavarotti Watches Kukulcan Drip Down El Castillo

When Pavarotti Sang to the Maya

All This, Over Pavarotti?