HOUSES OF THE SIERRA TARASCANS — BEALS, C\RRASCO, McCORKLE 



SCOPE OF THE STUDY 



In the 16th centiuy, the Taniscans occupied the 

 State of Alichoacan aud some adjacent pai'ts of 

 Guanajuato, Jahsco, and Guerrero. Today they 

 are reduced to part of central Michoacan, in- 

 cludmg the regions of Lake Patzcuaro, Zacapu, La 

 Canada, and the Sierra. The present area extends 

 from Lake Patzcuaro on the cast to near Los 

 Reyes on the West, and from La Canada south 

 to Uruapan (fig. 1). 



Tliis study refers solely to the region where 

 Tarascan is still spoken, and, more particuhi.i'ly, 



to the SieiTa. The town of Cheraii is taken as the 

 basis of mvestigation. Beals and AlcCorkle 

 spent nearly 8 months m Cheran, in 1940-1941, 

 although visiting other to\\nis briefly. Carrasco 

 spent some time in Cheran in January and 

 February 1941, but spent most of lus time in 

 Angahuan, Capacuaro, and Chilchota. Carrasco 

 also spent part of January and all of February 

 1942, in the field, working especially in Paracho, 

 but visiting extensively in the Lake Patzcuaj'o 

 region. Towns visited for vaj-ying lengths of time 



Figure 1. — Alap of the modern Tarascan region. 



