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

unknown archaeologically.” Diehl (2004:7) prefaced his recent publication on the Olmec
by stating that they “are one of antiquities most mysterious, fascinating, poorly
understood, and controversial civilizations.” One’s initial thought may be that this line
was simply hyperbole intended to entice the audience through an aura of the exotic
unknown. In truth, however, even the most ardent Mesoamerican Formative period
scholar would have difficulty arguing against either Clark’s or Diehl’s assertions.
Since the initial archaeological investigation in the Southern Gulf Lowlands in the
mid-1800s, uncertainties, misjudgments, and controversies have hindered study and
interpretation and continue to impede substantive progress within the discipline. This
situation is due to a variety of factors. First, archaeological investigation into the ancient
Gulf Olmec has produced limited data relating to emergent complexity and other social
issues. Historically, comprehensive investigations of the Formative Southern Gulf
Lowlands have been nominal, and the dearth of information has been consistently noted
(Coe 1989:68-70; Diehl 1989, 1998, 2000b; Grove 1997:72-73; Sharer 1989:3-4;
Soustelle 1984:7; Stark and Arnold 1997). Second, the preponderance of information that
has been produced has emanated only from the sites of San Lorenzo in Veracruz and La
Venta in Tabasco, Mexico; seldom has the full scope of the region been considered. The
foundations of the social theories have been built almost exclusively on these two sites.
Third, and possibly the most detrimental to the investigative progress, is that
many earlier explanations for sociopolitical development were based on conjecture,
inference, and supposition. Owing to the lack of primary data, many investigations of the
Southern Gulf Lowlands have arrived at conclusions through implication or indirect
methods of interpretation such as carrying capacities, technological modification, and
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