Centro Cultural Taíno Casa del Cordón profundiza en el cemí de algodón con tecnología utilizada por Universidad Turín

Bernardo Vega and Manuel García Arévalo discuss the symbolic value of this Taíno archaeological piece

Santo Domingo, DN – The Casa del Cordón Taíno Cultural Center, a cultural initiative of Banco Popular Dominicano , will begin its 2026 program with a highly rigorous historical and academic discussion dedicated to the study of the cotton cemí, one of the most unique pieces of the Taíno heritage.

The event, titled “The Twin of the Cotton Cemí: New Ways of Understanding Its Mysteries ,” will take place on Wednesday, January 14, at 7:00 pm in the courtyard of the cultural center. The discussion will feature economist, historian, and anthropologist Bernardo Vega and historian and archaeologist Manuel García Arévalo, president of the García Arévalo Foundation. The event will be moderated by the center's cultural advisor, José Enrique Delmonte.

This meeting continues a previous conversation held in August 2025 and delves deeper into how the use of three-dimensional digitization technologies, virtual modeling and interactive visualization, applied in studies carried out by the University of Turin, has allowed new approaches to the analysis and dissemination of this Taíno archaeological piece.

Thanks to these tools, researchers and the general public can access an accurate digital representation of the cemí, currently located in Europe, without needing to travel. These technological solutions facilitate both the dissemination of heritage and the detailed study of its symbolic, technical, and cultural values ​​from previously inaccessible perspectives.

The activity is part of the mission of the Taíno Cultural Center Casa del Cordón to promote the research, conservation and dissemination of the indigenous legacy of the island of Hispaniola, integrating historical knowledge with contemporary approaches supported by innovation.

Trajectories that support dialogue

Dr. Bernardo Vega, one of the most prominent figures in Dominican intellectual life, will contribute a multidisciplinary perspective grounded in decades of research. In 1970, by serendipity, he identified the first trace of the cotton cemí, a discovery that marked the beginning of extensive research on this artifact. His experience as former director of the Museum of Dominican Man further strengthens his authority on the subject.

For his part, Manuel García Arévalo, a renowned specialist in Taíno culture, will complement the analysis from an archaeological and heritage perspective. His work leading the García Arévalo Foundation has been key in the preservation and dissemination of the country's pre-Hispanic heritage.

A space for heritage and cultural reflection

Located in one of the first stone buildings in the New World, the Casa del Cordón Taíno Cultural Center is a landmark of colonial architecture in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo. It houses the permanent exhibition “Our First Settlers ,” comprised of more than 350 pre-Hispanic archaeological pieces loaned by the García Arévalo Foundation.

With a program that includes interactive exhibitions, educational experiences and cultural activities, the center is consolidating itself as a meeting place between history, technology and citizens, reaffirming its commitment to responsible and accessible heritage management.

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