National Institute of Anthropology and History - Definition and Overview

The Mexican Institute Nacional de Antropología e Historia (National Institute of Anthropology and History known as INAH for its Spanish abbreviation) is the federal government bureau established in 1939 to guarantee the research, preservation, protection, and promotion of the prehistoric, archaeological, anthropological, historical, and paleontological heritage of Mexico. Its creation has been fundamental in the preservation of the Mexican cultural heritage.

Currently, the INAH carries out its work through a Technical Secretarial which supervises the accomplishment of its substantial duties and whose tasks are distributed among the 7 National Coordinations and 31 Regional Centers throughout the states of the Mexican Republic. This bureau is responsible for the over 110 thousand historical monuments, built between the 16th and 19th centuries, and for 29 thousand archaeological zones found all over the country, although is it estimated there must be 200 thousand sites with archaeological remains. Of these 29,000, 150 are open to the public. Likewise, it supervises over a hundred museums within national territory, divided into different categories according to the extension and quality of its collections, geographical situation, and number of visitors.