Tres Zapotes

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Tres Zapotes is a Mesoamerican archaeological site located in the south-central Gulf Lowlands of Mexico in the Papaloapan river plain. Tres Zapotes is sometimes referred to as the third major Olmec capital (after San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán and La Venta), although Tres Zapotes' Olmec phase constitutes only a portion of the site’s history.^[1] The early occupation occurred during approximately the same time as that of La Venta, but there was also a later post-Olmec occupation.

The Olmec Heartland

1 Location
2 Major discoveries
- 2.1 Stela C
3 Tres Zapotes museum
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

[edit] Location

The site is located at 18°30′N 95°30′W, at the village of Tresa Zapotes, near Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz at the western edge of the Tuxtlas Mountains. This is well within the Olmec heartland which included the long-ago cities of La Venta, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, and Laguna de los Cerros.

[edit] Major discoveries

The first Olmec-style head was discovered by José Melgar at Tres Zapotes in 1862. To date, two have been found, labeled "Monument A" and Monument Q". Smaller than the colossal heads at San Lorenzo, they measure slightly less than 1.5 M (~4.5 feet) high. These two sculptures date from the Early and Middle Formative periods, but the occupations at this site during this time are poorly understood.

In the Late and Terminal Formative periods, archaeologists believe the site consisted of four clusters of large mounds measuring 18 m (59 ft) high. They surrounded plazas, three of them in an area extending more than 2 square kilometers. The fourth group is 2 kilometers northwest of the main set of mounds.

Most of the sculpture coming from Tres Zapotes dates from the Late and Terminal Formative periods. The similarities of these sculptural styles imply communication and continuity within the Olmec civilization. For example, Monument 2 from Izapa and Stela D from Tres Zapotes were geographically 500 km (310 mi) apart, yet they share artistic similarities. The most evident similarity is that the two scenes are taking part inside the mouth of a jaguar. The similarity in artistry leads archaeologists to believe that the two groups living across an isthmus shared in the Olmec linguistic tradition and spoke Mixe-Zoquean languages. Also, it is believed that Mixe-Zoquean glyphs possibly led to written Maya.

The back of Stela C
The bars and circles show the Mesoamerican Long Count date of 7.16.6.16.18. The glyphs surrounding the date are what is thought to be one of the few surviving examples of Epi-Olmec script.

[edit] Stela C

In 1939, archaeologist Matthew Stirling discovered at Tres Zapotes the bottom half of Stela C. This stela was carved from basalt, with one side showing a depiction of an abstract were-jaguar. On other side was the oldest Maya-style long-count date yet unearthed. This date, 7.16.6.16.18, correlates in our present-day calendar to September 3, 32 BCE, although there was some controversy over the missing baktun, the first digit, which Stirling had assumed was a '7'. His assumption was validated in 1969 when the top half of the stele was found.

Since 1939, only one older long-count date has been discovered, Stela 2 from Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas, with a date of 7.16.3.2.13 (36 BCE).

The back of Stela C is also engraved with what is thought to be one of the few surviving examples of Epi-Olmec script.

[edit] Tres Zapotes museum

Currently, there is a museum in the village of Tres Zapotes so that tourists and scholars alike can view the Olmec heads as well as Stela C.

[edit] Notes

^ Stirling, p. 5.

[edit] References

Coe, Michael D., Richard A. Diehl, Peter Furst, Kent V. Reilly III, Linda Schele, Carolyn Tate and Karl A. Taube (1996). The Olmec World: Ritual and Rulership. Princeton: Harry N Abrams. ISBN 0-8109-6311-6.
Diehl, Richard A. (2004). The Olmecs: America's First Civilization. London: Thames & Hudson. ISBN 0-500-02119-8.
Evans, Susan Toby (2004). Ancient Mexico & Central America - Archaeology and Culture History. New York: W W Norton & Co.. ISBN 0-500-05127-5.
Stirling, Matthew W. (1967). Elizabeth P. Benson (Ed.) "Early History of the Olmec Problem" (PDF). Dumbarton Oaks Conference on the Olmec, October 28th and 29th, 1967, pp.1-8., Washington D.C.: Dumbarton Oaks. Retrieved on 2006-10-15.