This sculpted head, now in the Anthropology Museum of Xalapa, came from
the village where the Olmecs built their first settlements. One of three villages
with Olmec sites, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan was home to the Olmecs from 1200
BC to 900BC.
the village where the Olmecs built their first settlements. One of three villages
with Olmec sites, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan was home to the Olmecs from 1200
BC to 900BC.
The Olmec builders incorporated stone drainage or water conduits constructed from basalt and
also erected massive sculptured heads of basalt weighing as much as 20 tons each. They hauled
these stones 50 miles from the distant volcano of the Tuxtla mountains near present-day Catemaco.
also erected massive sculptured heads of basalt weighing as much as 20 tons each. They hauled
these stones 50 miles from the distant volcano of the Tuxtla mountains near present-day Catemaco.
| At another site, Tres Zapotes, archaeologists discovered the first Olmec head. During a 1939 excavation archaeologist Mathew Sterling discovered a stelae bearing a long count date of 32 BC. |
San Lorenzo was first excavated by
Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941. The
site was later investigated by Michael Coe and
Richard Diehl. In 1967 the site was mapped
by the Coe expedition. Their work shows
artificial enlargement of plateaus to 150 feet in
height on which the Olmecs built their
settlement
An extensive system of basalt tiles, some of
which are in the small museum at the site,
show engineering prowess by the inhabitants
of the Olmec city and have been proposed as
potable water carrying aqueducts.
Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941. The
site was later investigated by Michael Coe and
Richard Diehl. In 1967 the site was mapped
by the Coe expedition. Their work shows
artificial enlargement of plateaus to 150 feet in
height on which the Olmecs built their
settlement
An extensive system of basalt tiles, some of
which are in the small museum at the site,
show engineering prowess by the inhabitants
of the Olmec city and have been proposed as
potable water carrying aqueducts.
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Olmec Sculpture, Veracruz, Mexico
Colossal head # 10 pictured above was sculpted from a 20- ton block of basalt brought 60 miles from
the Tuxtla Mountains. This sculpture is at the entrance of the museum at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan,
Veracruz State, Mexico. The Olmec settlement was active from 1200 BC to 900 BC on the
Coatzacoalcos River drainage system. First excavated by Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941 and later
by Archaeologists Michael Coe and Richard Diehl in 1967,
the Tuxtla Mountains. This sculpture is at the entrance of the museum at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan,
Veracruz State, Mexico. The Olmec settlement was active from 1200 BC to 900 BC on the
Coatzacoalcos River drainage system. First excavated by Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941 and later
by Archaeologists Michael Coe and Richard Diehl in 1967,
At San Lorenzo, excavators found ten Colossal heads sculpted from basalt that had been hauled 60 miles
from the Tuxtla mountains to the site which at the time was an Island in the Coatzacoalcos River. Head # 1
of 17 so far found and numbered in the order of discovery is at the Museum of Anthropology in Jalapa, the
capital of Veracruz State.
Unusual black stones with holes that could be fishing net weights have puzzled researcher and visitor alike.
One theory proposed is that they are iron ore devices used to generate sound. The wear on the stones
appears that they were likely used for weights to sink fishing nets.
Archaeological features will escape all but the trained eye. The museum, however, is worth the visit for
devotees of the Olmec.
from the Tuxtla mountains to the site which at the time was an Island in the Coatzacoalcos River. Head # 1
of 17 so far found and numbered in the order of discovery is at the Museum of Anthropology in Jalapa, the
capital of Veracruz State.
Unusual black stones with holes that could be fishing net weights have puzzled researcher and visitor alike.
One theory proposed is that they are iron ore devices used to generate sound. The wear on the stones
appears that they were likely used for weights to sink fishing nets.
Archaeological features will escape all but the trained eye. The museum, however, is worth the visit for
devotees of the Olmec.
San Lorenzo is a small
obscure farming village in
Veracruz State now, but
was once the home of
the Olmec culture.
The Olmec culture is noted
for the creation of
sculpture of large
stone heads like the one
at right which came from
the village where in 1200
BC, the Olmecs built their
first settlements.
San Lorenzo was a
flourishing Olmec
settlement from 1200 BC
to 900BC. There they built
a complex of artificial
plateaus reaching 150
feet according to the
mapping of Archaeologist
Michael Coe.
("The Olmecs," Richard
Diehl)
Ten heads were found at
San Lorenzo
obscure farming village in
Veracruz State now, but
was once the home of
the Olmec culture.
The Olmec culture is noted
for the creation of
sculpture of large
stone heads like the one
at right which came from
the village where in 1200
BC, the Olmecs built their
first settlements.
San Lorenzo was a
flourishing Olmec
settlement from 1200 BC
to 900BC. There they built
a complex of artificial
plateaus reaching 150
feet according to the
mapping of Archaeologist
Michael Coe.
("The Olmecs," Richard
Diehl)
Ten heads were found at
San Lorenzo
Olmec sculpted head at the
entrance to the small museum at
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
entrance to the small museum at
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
Olmec sculpture on display at the small museum at San
Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, the early home of the Olmec culture
Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, the early home of the Olmec culture
Reaching San Lorenzo and the Olmec Homeland:
Bus out of Mexico City Tapo or Norte for Veracruz. From Veracruz head to Coatzacoalcos or
Minatitlan south east of Catemaco. Then head by local bus to Acayucan where you get a collective taxi
for the ten miles to the small farming village of San Lorenzo. (San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Just Tenochtitlan
on some maps)
From Oaxaca , ADO first Class bus to Coatzacoalcos or Minatitlan bus to Acayucan, taxi to San Lorenzo.
Have lots of small change for taxis and water. (5 and 10 peso, 20 peso max.) Cash is scarce in remote
areas of Mexico
Bus out of Mexico City Tapo or Norte for Veracruz. From Veracruz head to Coatzacoalcos or
Minatitlan south east of Catemaco. Then head by local bus to Acayucan where you get a collective taxi
for the ten miles to the small farming village of San Lorenzo. (San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Just Tenochtitlan
on some maps)
From Oaxaca , ADO first Class bus to Coatzacoalcos or Minatitlan bus to Acayucan, taxi to San Lorenzo.
Have lots of small change for taxis and water. (5 and 10 peso, 20 peso max.) Cash is scarce in remote
areas of Mexico
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The metate used to grind corn, probably
for the makiing of tortillas
for the makiing of tortillas
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The San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Olmec Sculpture from
Veracruz, Mexico is now in the Museum of Anthropology
in Jalapa. The Olmec heads were moved to preserve them.
Veracruz, Mexico is now in the Museum of Anthropology
in Jalapa. The Olmec heads were moved to preserve them.
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