Izapa Group A and B Ruin Site
Chiapas State, Mexico, Page One
Chiapas State, Mexico, Page One
Izapa Ruin Site group A and B has mounds and a ball court as yet excavated or stabilized. Of
interest are the many standing stones , some with carvings , others having cylindrical shapes
and being capped by a round stone the same size as the cylinder.
interest are the many standing stones , some with carvings , others having cylindrical shapes
and being capped by a round stone the same size as the cylinder.
Izapa Chiapas Tapachula; an ancient city with Olmec influence that was
actively building from 850BC to 300 BC
actively building from 850BC to 300 BC
Izapa Ruin site, is an abandoned stone city built by the local settlers starting approximately 1500
BC and influenced by the Olmec culture through trade and migration. The city reached a high point
between 900 BC to 300 BC. 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.
BC and influenced by the Olmec culture through trade and migration. The city reached a high point
between 900 BC to 300 BC. 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.
Izapa's cylindrical columns share the plaza in front of the large
pyramid with other carved stela that have a flat round stone in front
of them, some with carved legs that resemble large metate.
pyramid with other carved stela that have a flat round stone in front
of them, some with carved legs that resemble large metate.
| Four of these cylinder shaped stones, three with caps, are set at the base of a large un-excavated pyramidal platform at group B and are aligned to the cardinal points, one at each point, with a longer north south axis. |
The New World Archaeology
Foundation has conducted
extensive studies at Izapa,
primarily because a carved
stone discovered and
designated Stela 5 by Mathew
Sterling in a 1940s dig
reportedly shows a depiction of
the tree of life and is offered by
the NWAF, a Mormon group, as
a validation of the Book of
Mormon.
Other investigators cite the
depiction of a boat and the
eastern (Asian) trappings as
proof of a connection by sea to
Near Eastern or Asian
seafarers. (Egyptians)
Stele 5 is located in Group A but
is very hard to read at this time
because it has been subjected to
weathering over many years.
Foundation has conducted
extensive studies at Izapa,
primarily because a carved
stone discovered and
designated Stela 5 by Mathew
Sterling in a 1940s dig
reportedly shows a depiction of
the tree of life and is offered by
the NWAF, a Mormon group, as
a validation of the Book of
Mormon.
Other investigators cite the
depiction of a boat and the
eastern (Asian) trappings as
proof of a connection by sea to
Near Eastern or Asian
seafarers. (Egyptians)
Stele 5 is located in Group A but
is very hard to read at this time
because it has been subjected to
weathering over many years.
Stele Five
Stele Five digitally sharpened
Stela Five, Izapa Group A
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Izapa has been little studied except by a Mathew Sterling project and by the New World Archaeology
Foundation, which conducted extensive studies at Izapa focus mainly on the stela.
The site was once an important Olmec political and religious center and contributed to the Olmec art and
architecture that was to later 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 at about 200 AD. Ancient art is found on many standing
stones. A site at Tonala (Iglesia Viejo) to the north has similar Olmec art as does many small sites in the
Tapachula area.
Foundation, which conducted extensive studies at Izapa focus mainly on the stela.
The site was once an important Olmec political and religious center and contributed to the Olmec art and
architecture that was to later 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 at about 200 AD. Ancient art is found on many standing
stones. A site at Tonala (Iglesia Viejo) to the north has similar Olmec art as does many small sites in the
Tapachula area.
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