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

portion of Field 6. It is possible that this location was occupied by the site’s leaders
whose descendents would, over time, become recognized, minimally, as chiefs (Fowler
1991:3; Stark 1997:283, 288; Tolstoy 1989:293). This restricted area is the only locality
in the survey area in which chronologically diagnostic, pre-Olmec ceramics have been
recovered. These interpretations are based on the existing evidence, and it is noted that
the erosive action of the San Juan River has led to the loss of land at this location of the
site. Therefore, it may be that the areas that remain today are only portions of the original
Formative period settlement.
Ojochi phase, Achiotal Gray type tecomates (c. 1500-1350 BC) constitute the
earliest evidence of settlement at El Marquesillo and have been recovered only in the
northern portion of Field 6. Rocker-stamped pieces from the succeeding Bajío phase (c.
1350-1250 BC) indicate the continuance of this spatially limited occupation. The
presence of Chicharras phase (c. 1250-1150 BC) ceramics, which are considered
transitional to the subsequent San Lorenzo Olmec phase (c. 1150-900 BC) (Coe and
Diehl 1980a:150), also demonstrates the occupational continuity of this small hamlet.
The spatially concentrated presence of obsidian and groundstone implements along with
these ceramics suggests a residential context.
It is possible that social complexity emerged over time at this early occupation
site, a suggestion that is based on a series of factors. The first is the initial appearance of
ceramics. The Soconusco Coast is a region that had demonstrable resource exchange,
symbolic sculptural similarities, and linguistic ties to the southern Gulf Coast (Campbell
and Kaufman 1976; Cheetham 2005; Clark 1997; Cobean et al. 1971; Cobean et al. 1991;
Graham 1989; Grove 1997; Rodríguez and Ortíz 1997; Taube 2004). There the first
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