22.10.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

<strong>the</strong> site was tied to San Lorenzo. Additionally, <strong>the</strong> precipitous decl<strong>in</strong>e <strong>of</strong> population <strong>in</strong><br />

and around <strong>the</strong> area temporally mirrors <strong>the</strong> demise <strong>of</strong> San Lorenzo (Borste<strong>in</strong> 2001), a<br />

situation that fur<strong>the</strong>r suggests a client-patron relationship. Collectively, <strong>the</strong>se data suggest<br />

Laguna de los Cerros may have been a central place but secondary or supportive <strong>of</strong><br />

ano<strong>the</strong>r larger or controll<strong>in</strong>g site.<br />

Cyphers (2003:6-8) states that she found no support for any Formative period<br />

constructions. On <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r hand, <strong>the</strong> Late Classic Villa Alta phase construction complex<br />

presents an entirely different picture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sociopolitical organization at <strong>the</strong> site. The<br />

stone sculptures attributed to <strong>the</strong> Formative period had, evidently, been moved by later<br />

<strong>in</strong>habitants and <strong>the</strong>ir method and place <strong>of</strong> deposition did not appear to follow Formative<br />

period protocols for such items. Additionally, whereas San Lorenzo and La Venta are<br />

located immediately adjacent to major alluvial river systems, Laguna de los Cerros is<br />

positioned on a broad pla<strong>in</strong> between two small streams, Zanja Prieta and Zanja Grande.<br />

The closest stream is approximately 1 km from <strong>the</strong> site, and both dra<strong>in</strong> south-southwest<br />

to <strong>the</strong> San Juan River floodpla<strong>in</strong>. These environmental conditions are not what would be<br />

expected for a large, highly populated center. Unquestionably, more thorough and<br />

directed <strong>in</strong>vestigations are required to elucidate a more accurate depiction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> site and<br />

its environs.<br />

Las Limas, La Oaxaqueña, and Ojo de Agua<br />

The sites <strong>of</strong> Las Limas, La Oaxaqueña, and Ojo de Agua are located upstream<br />

from San Lorenzo along bends <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> Coatzacoalcos River. Early Formative period<br />

pottery has been recovered from all three sites, a basalt monument was recovered at Ojo<br />

60

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!