Olmec Homeland, San
Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
is a village in the basin of the
Coatzacoalcos River 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. There they built a
complex of artificial plateaus
reaching 150 feet in height
according to the mapping of
Archaeologist Michael Coe.
("The Olmecs," Richard Diehl)
Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
is a village in the basin of the
Coatzacoalcos River 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. There they built a
complex of artificial plateaus
reaching 150 feet in height
according to the mapping of
Archaeologist Michael Coe.
("The Olmecs," Richard Diehl)
The Olmec builders
incorporated stone
drainage or water conduits
constructed from basalt and
also erected six 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.
incorporated stone
drainage or water conduits
constructed from basalt and
also erected six 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 and during a 1939
excavation archaeologist Mathew Sterling discovered a stela bearing a long count date of 32
BC.
excavation archaeologist Mathew Sterling discovered a stela bearing a long count date of 32
BC.
First excavated by Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941 and later by Archaeologists Michael
Coe and Richard Diehl in 1967 the site as mapped by the Coe expedition 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.
At San Lorenzo, excavators found ten Colossal heads sculpted from 20- ton blocks of 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 capitol 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.
Archaeological features will escape all but the trained eye. The museum, however, is worth the
visit for devotees of the Olmec.
Coe and Richard Diehl in 1967 the site as mapped by the Coe expedition 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.
At San Lorenzo, excavators found ten Colossal heads sculpted from 20- ton blocks of 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 capitol 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.
Archaeological features will escape all but the trained eye. The museum, however, is worth the
visit for devotees of the Olmec.
Olmec Homeland, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan,
Olmec Ruin Site, Veracruz, Mexico
Olmec Ruin Site, Veracruz, Mexico
Colossal Olmec head # 10 sculpted from
a 20- ton block of basalt brought 60 miles from
the Tuxtla Mountains is now in the museum at
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Veracruz State,
Mexico.
The Olmec settlement on the site was active
from 1200 BC to 900 BC on the
Coatzacoalcos River drainage system. The
ruin site was first excavated by Archaeologist
Mathew Stirling in 1941 and later by
Archaeologists Michael Coe and Richard
Diehl in 1967,
a 20- ton block of basalt brought 60 miles from
the Tuxtla Mountains is now in the museum at
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Veracruz State,
Mexico.
The Olmec settlement on the site was active
from 1200 BC to 900 BC on the
Coatzacoalcos River drainage system. The
ruin site was first excavated by Archaeologist
Mathew Stirling in 1941 and later by
Archaeologists Michael Coe and Richard
Diehl in 1967,
Olmec sculpture fro San Lorenzo at the Jalapa Museum of Anthropology in
Vera Cruz
Vera Cruz
Reaching San Lorenzo and the Olmec Homeland:
Bus out of 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. On some maps just Tenochtitlan)
From Oaxaca , ADO first Class bus to Acayucan, Coatzacoalcos or Minatitlan. Bus to Acayucan, taxi to
San Lorenzo
Bus out of 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. On some maps just Tenochtitlan)
From Oaxaca , ADO first Class bus to Acayucan, Coatzacoalcos or Minatitlan. Bus to Acayucan, taxi to
San Lorenzo
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