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

Modifications to this pattern occurred following the arrival of Europeans and continued
into the contemporary period.
For this evidence to be evaluated, it must be placed within its appropriate context.
Referring to the Olmec phenomenon, Cyphers (1993:156-158) stresses that interpretation
and meaning cannot be conceived in isolation. She contends that, to be effectively
considered, the evidence must be placed within an “archaeological and sociological”
context. “Ideally, a context implies not only the single object, but those objects found
together with it, including constructed architecture and/or modified landscapes,
immediate or more remote” (Cyphers 1993:158). In turn, the specific contexts must be
placed within a broader setting, “which defines a situation, reminds occupants of the
appropriate rules and hence of the ongoing behaviors appropriate to the situation defined
by the settings” (Rapoport 1990:12). Thus, the interpretations presented here are
constructed from evidence recovered within the context of the site of El Marquesillo.
These conceptual constructions are then evaluated relative to the setting of the Formative
period Southern Gulf Lowlands.
Contextual Background
The Formative period inhabitants of El Marquesillo began a process that led to a
development of social complexity and participation in the Gulf Coast Olmec paradigm, a
shared array of concepts, values, and practices that established a communal worldview
and imparted meaning to their cultural and physical surroundings. Through an assessment
of the occupational continuum, settlement patterns, and activity areas that are evident at
the site, it appears that ancient people at El Marquesillo continued to exhibit a series of
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