A long-standing legend tells that the mountains of the State of Chihuahua were inhabited by giants who lived in peace with humans, until their extinction.
The existence of the Ganoko is part of the fascinating legends of the oral tradition of the Rarámuri, in which they narrate the presence of giants who shared remote times with the community.
Given the immensity of the territory covered by the mountains in the State of Chihuahua, it is plausible to conceive that at some point these extraordinary beings could have resided in the region.
From the cosmogonic perspective of the Rarámuris peoples, evidence that supports this belief is found in the petroglyphs made by their ancestors, immortalized in the Cueva de las Monas.
The conjunction of these visual representations with the presence of offerings discovered at the site questions the possibility that this narrative is more than a simple story, suggesting that it could be a true account of past events.
What is the meaning of the Ganoko legend?
In ancient times, according to the stories transmitted from generation to generation among the Rarámuri families, there were two children named Rayénari and Metzaka, the sun and the moon, who lived in a modest house of branches in the middle of the forest.
These children lived without light or company, so they decided to go to their god, Onorúame, who, in response to their request, took several ears of corn and with them created men and women, making them come to life with the breath of his breath.
According to the narrative, this same god was also the creator of the Ganoko, beings that were giants in comparison to them.
Initially, the Ganoko collaborated with their Rarámuri brothers in cultivation, preparing the land together.
As a token of gratitude, the Rarámuris offered them food and tesguino, a traditional drink used in ceremonies and festivities since time immemorial.
However, due to the fermentation of this drink, the giants eventually became drunk, causing disturbances in the town and even going so far as to eat the children.
Faced with this unsustainable situation, the Rarámuris made the decision to poison the Ganoko with a special dish made from chilicotes, a fruit that grows in the mountains.
In this way, the last Ganoko perished alone in a distant cave, marking the end of his coexistence with the Rarámuri.
Where is the Monas cave?
The Cueva de las Monas is located in the municipality of Guerrero, just north of Chihuahua Capital.
Its existence was discovered just a few years ago, at the end of the 1980s, within it the discovery of the aforementioned cave paintings was made, which show various activities coined to the Rarámuri people, such as the use of peyote, the worship of religious icons and the legend of the Ganoko itself.
Currently the site has a large influx of people who love hiking, exploration and history.
The latter was allowed after the correct protection of the set of 12 cave paintings.
Were there giants in Chihuahua?
Throughout history, expert anthropologists have interpreted the legend of the Ganoko as an attempt by the Rarámuri to explain the presence of dinosaur bones discovered in the region.
Furthermore, it is considered that the story fulfilled the function of raising children’s awareness about the importance of respecting both nature and their own people.
Despite these interpretations, investigations into the findings in the cave continue.
Some of the latest discoveries include mummies accompanied by offerings and vessels with chilicotes.
These additional elements raise the intriguing possibility that the Ganoko legend is more than a simple narrative, suggesting that it may have more tangible foundations in the region’s history.
Source: Radio Formula
