Analysis of an Olmec Piedmont Center

Killion, Thomas; Urcid, Javier

Abstract

The Olmec, one of Mesoamerica's first complex societies, developed along Mexico's Southern Gulf Coast during the period of ca. 1,400 - 400 BC. Olmec archaeology has traditionally focused on the spectacular achievements of this culture, most notably the colossal heads and other sculptures carved of basalt and displayed or interred within the monumental precincts of their largest centers. Olmec scholars have concentrated on the riverine sites in the Olmec heartland where most of the monuments were first discovered and endeavored to understand the iconography expressed. The chronology and economic organization of settlement in piedmont and upland sectors which provided the source area for the basalt used in the monuments consequently is still poorly understood. Laguna de los Cerros, long considered one of the four principal centers of the Olmec heartland lies within the basalt bearing source zone for these monuments at the base of the Tuxtlas Mountains in southern Veracruz. The site produced numerous sculptures in pure Olmec style. Surprisingly almost no research has been conducted at Laguna since its initial exploration although it is known that a monument workshop exists within six kilometers of the site's center. This suggests that Laguna may have been the center of a local piedmont prestige economy specializing in monument production either for local use or for export to larger riverine sites. Dr. Killion has postulated that control of a piedmont prestige technology in the production of carved monuments necessary for Olmec ceremonialism would have enhanced the site's elite status and power, created economic and political opportunities for local leaders, encouraged the growth of regional power and helped further the process which led to a stratified form of social organization. To examine this proposition Dr. Killion and his colleagues will conduct a survey to produce basic settlement pattern data and to trace changing patterns of settlement over time. They will also undertake a program of stratigraphic testing and intensive surface artifact collection. Petrographic analysis of basalt sources and workshop localities will allow the reconstruction of the organization of basalt production within Laguna's hinterland and its potential role as a monument producer throughout the heartland. This research is important because the Laguna sites present a unique opportunity to acquire new information on a key piece of the puzzle of Olmec cultural dynamics. It will shed new light on the processes which led to the rise of the first Middle American civilization. ¢ ?¢?/%%` %Á/?Á _??Á ?Á?_/>Á>¥ />? ??¢??%Á ?Á_/?>¢ ??Á©?¢¥???/>¢ ©/?Á Â???¢Á? ???_/??%` ?> ¥©Á?? ??%Á ?> ¥©Á ????%?:/¥??> ????Á¢¢ />? ?/¢¥??/%?¢¥¢ ©/?Á ?ÁÁ> ÀÁ>Á?/%` ?À>??Á? ñ???Á>?Á ?>???/¥Á¢ ¥©/¥ ¼Á% % í/>/¥ ?/¢ ???_/??%` / ?/¢¥??/% ¢?¥Á />? ¥©Á _?>?_Á>¥¢ _/` ?> Â/?¥ ?ÁÂ%Á?¥ ¥©Á ¢/_Á ????Á¢¢ Á???Á>?Á? ?> /À????%¥??/% ?ÁÀ??>¢ (?(%Á%%/> ??¢¥?%/¥Á¢ ¥©/¥ ¥©Á ?`>/_?? ?©??© %Á? ¥? ????%?:/¥??> ?> ¥©Á +Á/? ñ/¢¥ ?¢ _?? ??_?%??/¥Á? ¥©/> _?¢¥ /??©/Á?%?À?¢¥¢ ? Á/%?:Á />? ¥©/¥ ¥©Á ?/¢¥??/%?¢¥ ?>??¥ ©/¢ ?ÁÁ> ?>?Á?Á¢¥?_/¥Á? ¼©Á ?>Â??_/¥??> ??%%Á?¥Á? /¥ ¼Á%% í/>/¥ ?¢ ???Á?¥%` ?Á%Á?/>¥ ¥? ¥©?¢ ??Á¢¥??> ¼©?¢ ?Á¢Á/??© ?¢ ?_???¥/>¥ ?Á?/?¢Á ?¥ ??%% ?>??Á/¢Á ??? ?>?Á?¢¥/>??>À ?©?? ??_?%Á? ????%?:/¥??>¢ /??¢Á ¿¥ ??% % ?Á¢??Á Â??_ ?__?>Á>¥ ?Á¢¥???¥??> ?_???¥/>¥ /??©/Á?%?À??/% ?>Â??_/¥??>

Funding Agency

• Agency: National Science Foundation (NSF)
• Institute: Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS)
• Type: Standard Grant (Standard)
• Application #: 9708970
• Program Officer: Dennis H. O'Rourke
• Budget Start: 1997-07-01
• Budget End: 1999-06-30
• Fiscal Year: 1997
• Total Cost: $88,179

Institution

• Name: Boston University
• City: Boston
• State: MA
• Country: United States
• Zip Code: 02215