An Unexplored Realm in the Heartland of the Southern Gulf ... - Famsi

The representative INAH sent to the site was Espinoza García, who confirmed the
piece was indeed an Olmec carved basalt monument in his report to the Centro INAH
Veracruz director on December 18, 2001 (Espinoza-García 2001). In the first week of
January, 2002, after analysis of the report and discussions with the INAH Consejo in
Mexico City, Director Goeritz notified Centro INAH Veracruz archaeologist María de
Lourdes Hernández Jiménez that she was to conduct the project to rescue the Olmec
sculpture.
El Marquesillo Archaeological Rescue Project – 2002
Hernández entered the field less than a week later with a team of archaeologists
and a time limit of one week to complete the project. The objective was to remove the
sculpture from it precarious perch at the edge of an 8 m high embankment above the San
Juan River and move it to a secure location (see Figure 3.13). At the same time, she was
Figure 3.13. Olmec throne exposed at top of elevated portion of the river cut. Spoil heap
on lower slope was caused by excavation by El Marquesillo residents (photograph by
Hernández, 2002).
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