Izapa Ruin Site Chiapas State, Mexico,Tapachula Chiapas
Izapa Ruin Site reached from the Talisman road collectivo a few miles out of Tapachula. The
entrance is at complex group F, first settled in 1200 BC
entrance is at complex group F, first settled in 1200 BC
Izapa Chiapas Tapachula; an ancient city with
Olmec influence that was at its height from
600BC to 100 AD
Olmec influence that was at its height from
600BC to 100 AD
Izapa has been little studied except for a Smithsonian expedition by Mathew Sterling in 1941 and by
the New World Archaeological Foundation. It was at one point in its long history an important Olmec
political and religious center that contributed to the Olmec art and architecture that was to spread
throughout Mesoamerica
The three sites open today for visits are small remnants of a huge sprawling city that developed its own
unique style of art after the Olmec influence ended around 200 AD. The art includes many standing
stones. A site at Tonala (Iglesia Viejo) to the north has similar Olmec and later art as does many small
sites in the Tapachula area.
The medium sized city of Tapachula, where lodging and night life are available, lies within 8 miles of the
Izapa ruin site.. The city is served by a major ADO, OCC, and Tica bus terminal. Collectivos headed for
the ruin pass by the terminal. The Talisman bound collectivo makes many runs throughout the day and
will stop at the Izapa ruin site.
the New World Archaeological Foundation. It was at one point in its long history an important Olmec
political and religious center that contributed to the Olmec art and architecture that was to spread
throughout Mesoamerica
The three sites open today for visits are small remnants of a huge sprawling city that developed its own
unique style of art after the Olmec influence ended around 200 AD. The art includes many standing
stones. A site at Tonala (Iglesia Viejo) to the north has similar Olmec and later art as does many small
sites in the Tapachula area.
The medium sized city of Tapachula, where lodging and night life are available, lies within 8 miles of the
Izapa ruin site.. The city is served by a major ADO, OCC, and Tica bus terminal. Collectivos headed for
the ruin pass by the terminal. The Talisman bound collectivo makes many runs throughout the day and
will stop at the Izapa ruin site.
Izapa ruin site receives few visitors but a new
cruise terminal in Puerto Chiapas now brings in
tour boats and the passengers at times bus to
the ruin.
cruise terminal in Puerto Chiapas now brings in
tour boats and the passengers at times bus to
the ruin.
An enigmatic stone carving at the site depicts a frog according to the literature but looks more like a turtle or
a snake. Some researchers speculate that the stone was used as a compass once it was mounted on a
platform and place in water or aboard a boat. Other researchers claim that stones are often magnetic in this
way due to natural inclusion of magnet iron ore in basalt bolders.
The stone is magnetically polarized with the exact center of the nose attracting a compass needle, the mid
section repelling the needle, and the end section away from the nose, attracting the south end of the
compass needle.
a snake. Some researchers speculate that the stone was used as a compass once it was mounted on a
platform and place in water or aboard a boat. Other researchers claim that stones are often magnetic in this
way due to natural inclusion of magnet iron ore in basalt bolders.
The stone is magnetically polarized with the exact center of the nose attracting a compass needle, the mid
section repelling the needle, and the end section away from the nose, attracting the south end of the
compass needle.
The Izapa ruin
site is set in
deep jungle most
now growing
chocolate
banana,
avocado, and
mango. Wild fruit
continually falls
from trees along
the dirt road to
ruins group A
and B.
Standing stones
are propped up
in farmers
pastures and in
places the
access road has
been cut through
,small site
mounds.
site is set in
deep jungle most
now growing
chocolate
banana,
avocado, and
mango. Wild fruit
continually falls
from trees along
the dirt road to
ruins group A
and B.
Standing stones
are propped up
in farmers
pastures and in
places the
access road has
been cut through
,small site
mounds.
Izapa Ruin Site, is an abandoned stone city built by the local settlers starting in 1200 BC. The
settlement was influenced by the Olmec culture through trade and migration from 900 BC to 100 AD.. The
city reached a high point between 600 BC to 100 AD.
Izapa was the center of a large culture settled along the coastal plain and river delta near what is the current
border with Guatemala and the present day city of Tapachula in Chiapas State, Mexico.
settlement was influenced by the Olmec culture through trade and migration from 900 BC to 100 AD.. The
city reached a high point between 600 BC to 100 AD.
Izapa was the center of a large culture settled along the coastal plain and river delta near what is the current
border with Guatemala and the present day city of Tapachula in Chiapas State, Mexico.
To visit the Izapa ruin Site, catch the white collective taxis as they make runs in front of the bus terminal
headed for the town of Talisman. They run about every 15 minutes and cost about 8 pesos. They start near
the market district in the center of the city at a large terminal for collectivos. The three Izapa sites are spread
about a mile apart, one near the main road , Group F, and two a mile distant at the end of a dirt road, group
A and B.
The complex was once a huge city but is now not much more than 13 plazas encircled by un-excavated
mounds except for group F. which has been excavated and stabilized. The three groups have some unique
stone carvings and glyphs, however, and one , a snake or frogs head is made of magnetic stone with the
animals head polarized towards magnetic north.
Hotels, are plentiful in Tapachula near the lively center. (20-45 USD, 200 - 400 Pesos )
An archaeological museum near the center houses a great collection of ceramic and stone artifacts from
Izapa and the many smaller sites in the area.
(Hotel Plaza Guizar, 200 pesos with air and cable, 01-962-62-6-24-88)
headed for the town of Talisman. They run about every 15 minutes and cost about 8 pesos. They start near
the market district in the center of the city at a large terminal for collectivos. The three Izapa sites are spread
about a mile apart, one near the main road , Group F, and two a mile distant at the end of a dirt road, group
A and B.
The complex was once a huge city but is now not much more than 13 plazas encircled by un-excavated
mounds except for group F. which has been excavated and stabilized. The three groups have some unique
stone carvings and glyphs, however, and one , a snake or frogs head is made of magnetic stone with the
animals head polarized towards magnetic north.
Hotels, are plentiful in Tapachula near the lively center. (20-45 USD, 200 - 400 Pesos )
An archaeological museum near the center houses a great collection of ceramic and stone artifacts from
Izapa and the many smaller sites in the area.
(Hotel Plaza Guizar, 200 pesos with air and cable, 01-962-62-6-24-88)
Izapa Ruin Site Chiapas State, Mexico is located
near the city of Tapachula. Izapa is an ancient
city with Olmec influence that was at its height
from 600 BC to 100 AD
Speculation surrounds the magnetic stone turtle or
frog (left)
near the city of Tapachula. Izapa is an ancient
city with Olmec influence that was at its height
from 600 BC to 100 AD
Speculation surrounds the magnetic stone turtle or
frog (left)
Izapa Ruin Site Chiapas State, Mexico is located near the city of Tapachula. Izapa is an ancient city
with Olmec influence that was at its height from 600 BC to 100 AD
with Olmec influence that was at its height from 600 BC to 100 AD
Izapa Ruin Site Chiapas Mexico is located just southeast of the City of Tapachula.
Izapa is located in three sections on the Talisman Road, parts of a sprawling
settlement with Olmec influence that was at its height from 600 BC to 100 AD
Izapa is located in three sections on the Talisman Road, parts of a sprawling
settlement with Olmec influence that was at its height from 600 BC to 100 AD
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