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

was conducted by individuals or organized and controlled by the elite members of the
society. The production and use of these materials may be related only to personal or
family use or they may have been part of a unified, community-wide demand.
Monumental Basalt Olmec Throne
In the Archaeology of El Marquesillo section in Chapter 3, the discovery and
rescue of the monumental basalt sculpture was described. Additionally, the sociopolitical
significance of Olmec thrones is discussed in the Olmec Thrones of the Southern Gulf
Coast segment. Due to the implications associated with the presence of a monumental
Olmec throne at El Marquesillo, a section is presented here that examines the physical
nature, sculptural elements, and depositional details of the monumental basalt block.
Physical Attributes
The monument is carved from a solid block of coarse grained basalt that,
minimally, would have measured 255 cm x 125 cm x 115 cm, and weighed 11,037.2 kg
or 12.17 metric tons (Figures 5.51, 5.52, and 5.53). This igneous rock is not indigenous to
the alluvial lowlands and would have been brought to El Marquesillo from the volcanic
ridge of the Tuxtla Mountains or its foothills, a straight-line distance that ranges from 15
to 50 km. Crossing the irregular terrain of the region could double the travel distance, and
substantial elevations and water courses would have to be overcome.
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