Tres Zapotes
Tres Zapotes is an ancient archaeological site located in the southern part of Veracruz, Mexico, renowned for its significance in the Olmec civilization. Dating from around 1200 BCE to 1200 CE, Tres Zapotes is notable for housing monumental sculptures, including a colossal stone head discovered in 1862, which exhibits a blend of human and jaguar features. The site gained further prominence during a scientific exploration in 1939, which unveiled Stela "C," a stone slab featuring inscriptions similar to Maya calendrical symbols, predating known Maya inscriptions by three centuries. This discovery supports the theory of a highly developed Olmec culture that established advanced social, religious, and governmental systems.
Tres Zapotes was characterized by a decentralized government and served as a significant hub for trade and commerce. The achievements of the Olmec civilization at this site are indicative of their intellectual and artistic prowess, laying foundational elements for subsequent Mesoamerican societies. The research conducted at Tres Zapotes contributes valuable insights into the history of pre-Columbian civilizations in the region, highlighting the complexity and sophistication of the Olmec culture.
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Tres Zapotes
- CATEGORY: Archaeological site
- DATE: c. 1200 Before the Common Era (BCE) through 1200 Common Era (CE)
- LOCATION: Veracruz, Mexico
- CULTURE AFFECTED: Olmec
In the southern part of the Mexican state of Veracruz, extending down the Gulf of Mexico coast, are a series of mountains known as the Tuxtlas; within them lies an ancient archaeological site known as Tres Zapotes. There, in 1862, a colossal stone head weighing twelve tons was discovered. Its features were male, with combined human and jaguar characteristics. Later, in 1939, when the first scientific exploration of the site occurred, two discoveries were made: male heads, like the 1862 one, and a fragmentary stone slab covered with inscriptions on one side and a man-jaguar mask on the other. The inscriptions on the slab were identical to Maya calendrical symbols, but when calculations were made, the slab inscriptions predated the oldest Maya inscription by three centuries. Radiocarbon analysis of organic material at the site confirmed the calendrical calculations. This slab is now known as Stela “C.” Archaeologists interpreted the Stela “C” date as conclusive evidence of a very ancient and advanced civilization, predating all other pre-Columbian Mesoamerican civilizations. Named Olmec by archaeologists, this civilization achieved very high intellectual and artistic levels, developed ceremonial centers, and invented the calendrical and mathematical systems used by later Mesoamerican civilizations. Tres Zapotes exhibited a decentralized government system, was a hub of commerce and trade, and had advanced social and religious systems.
Bibliography
Maestri, Nicoletta. “Tres Zapotes (Mexico) - Olmec Capital City in Veracruz.” ThoughtCo, 17 Feb. 2020, www.thoughtco.com/tres-zapotes-mexico-olmec-site-172973. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
“Olmec Urban Centers: San Lorenzo and Tres Zapotes.” Mexico Historico, www.mexicohistorico.com/paginas/Olmec-Urban-Centers--San-Lorenzo-and-Tres-Zapotes.html. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Pool, Christopher A. “Tres Zapotes Holds the Clues.” Calliope, vol. 14, no. 5, Jan. 2004, pp. 48–49. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=11911199&site=ehost-live. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.
Wade, Lizzie. “Kings of Cooperation.” Archaeology Magazine, Mar./Apr. 2017, archaeology.org/issues/march-april-2017/features/olmec-tres-zapotes-government. Accessed 2 Dec. 2024.