Reach San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan:
from Acayucan, south of Veracruz
Location: 19*26.60' N, 99*5.60' W
Near Coatzacoalcos and Acayucan.
This ruin was the home of the culture now called Olmec.
The settlement spread over three small villages along
the river estuary and totaled 1200 acres. The Olmec
occupied the area from 1500 to 400 BC, with a peak
occupation from 1200BC to 900BC
Construction was of artificial earthen plateaus and
mounds to bring the settlement above the flood plane of
the Coatzacoalcos River
The settlement had a population or 15,000.
The site has a small museum with a single stone Olmec
sculptured head at the entrance and other sculptures
within and on the grounds.
Fee: 30 pesos
Hours: Museum 8:AM to 3: PM
Notable Features:
Archaeological features will escape all but the trained
eye. The museum, however, is worth the visit for
devotees of the Olmec.
from Acayucan, south of Veracruz
Location: 19*26.60' N, 99*5.60' W
Near Coatzacoalcos and Acayucan.
This ruin was the home of the culture now called Olmec.
The settlement spread over three small villages along
the river estuary and totaled 1200 acres. The Olmec
occupied the area from 1500 to 400 BC, with a peak
occupation from 1200BC to 900BC
Construction was of artificial earthen plateaus and
mounds to bring the settlement above the flood plane of
the Coatzacoalcos River
The settlement had a population or 15,000.
The site has a small museum with a single stone Olmec
sculptured head at the entrance and other sculptures
within and on the grounds.
Fee: 30 pesos
Hours: Museum 8:AM to 3: PM
Notable Features:
Archaeological features will escape all but the trained
eye. The museum, however, is worth the visit for
devotees of the Olmec.
San Lorenzo, Olmec Homeland, Veracruz, Mexico
At San Lorenzo, an extensive system of basalt
tiles, some of which are in the small museum
at the site, show engineering prowess by the
inhabitants of the Olmec settlement and have
been proposed as aqueducts for carrying
potable water.
At San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, excavators found
ten Colossal heads sculpted from 20- ton
blocks of basalt that had been hauled 60 miles
from the Tuxtla mountains to the site which at
the time was an Island in the Coatzacoalcos
River. Head # 1 of 17 so far found and
numbered in the order of discovery, is at the
Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa, (Jalapa)
the capitol of Veracruz State.
Unusual black stones with holes that could be
fishing net weights have puzzled researcher
and visitor alike. One theory proposed is that
they are iron ore devices used to generate
sound.
Archaeological features are not evident, the
museum, however, is worth the visit for
devotees of the Olmec.
tiles, some of which are in the small museum
at the site, show engineering prowess by the
inhabitants of the Olmec settlement and have
been proposed as aqueducts for carrying
potable water.
At San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, excavators found
ten Colossal heads sculpted from 20- ton
blocks of basalt that had been hauled 60 miles
from the Tuxtla mountains to the site which at
the time was an Island in the Coatzacoalcos
River. Head # 1 of 17 so far found and
numbered in the order of discovery, is at the
Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa, (Jalapa)
the capitol of Veracruz State.
Unusual black stones with holes that could be
fishing net weights have puzzled researcher
and visitor alike. One theory proposed is that
they are iron ore devices used to generate
sound.
Archaeological features are not evident, the
museum, however, is worth the visit for
devotees of the Olmec.
Sculptures found at the San Lorenzo and La Venta sites
have been moved to the La Venta Museum in Villa
Hermosa and the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa.
have been moved to the La Venta Museum in Villa
Hermosa and the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa.
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, The Olmec
Homeland was first excavated by
Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941 and
later by Archaeologists Michael Coe and
Richard Diehl in 1967. The site as
mapped by the Coe expedition shows
artificial enlargement of plateaus to 150
feet in height on which the Olmecs built
their settlement on what was once an island
in the Coatzacoalcos River drainage
system.
Homeland was first excavated by
Archaeologist Mathew Stirling in 1941 and
later by Archaeologists Michael Coe and
Richard Diehl in 1967. The site as
mapped by the Coe expedition shows
artificial enlargement of plateaus to 150
feet in height on which the Olmecs built
their settlement on what was once an island
in the Coatzacoalcos River drainage
system.
The sculpted heads were moved to the
more secure and accessible Museum of
Anthropology in Xalapa (Jalapa) in Veracruz
State
more secure and accessible Museum of
Anthropology in Xalapa (Jalapa) in Veracruz
State
Olmec Head at the Xalapa Museum
Olmec Head at the San
Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
Sculptures were moved to from San Lorenzo
and La Venta Olmec sites to the La Venta
Museum in Villa Hermosa and to the Museum
of Anthropology in Xalapa.
(Pictured above)
and La Venta Olmec sites to the La Venta
Museum in Villa Hermosa and to the Museum
of Anthropology in Xalapa.
(Pictured above)
Olmec sculptures from La Venta Ruin Site are displayed in the La Venta
Museum in Villa Hermosa, Tabasco State
Museum in Villa Hermosa, Tabasco State
Reaching San Lorenzo and the Olmec Homeland:
Bus out of Mexico City Tapo or Norte for Veracruz. From Veracruz head to Coatzacoalcos or
Minatitlan south east of Catemaco. Then head by local bus to Acayucan where you get a collective taxi
for the ten miles to the small farming village of San Lorenzo. (San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Just Tenochtitlan
on some maps)
From Oaxaca , ADO first Class bus to Coatzacoalcos or Minatitlan bus to Acayucan, taxi to San Lorenzo.
Have lots of small change for taxis and water. (5 and 10 peso, 20 peso max.) Cash is scarce in remote
areas of Mexico
Bus out of Mexico City Tapo or Norte for Veracruz. From Veracruz head to Coatzacoalcos or
Minatitlan south east of Catemaco. Then head by local bus to Acayucan where you get a collective taxi
for the ten miles to the small farming village of San Lorenzo. (San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan. Just Tenochtitlan
on some maps)
From Oaxaca , ADO first Class bus to Coatzacoalcos or Minatitlan bus to Acayucan, taxi to San Lorenzo.
Have lots of small change for taxis and water. (5 and 10 peso, 20 peso max.) Cash is scarce in remote
areas of Mexico
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