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17 44'N 94 48'W / 17,733, -94.8
San Lorenzo is an archaeological site Olmec of the State of Veracruz in Mexico in the municipality of Texistepec. It dates from the Mesoamerican Preclassic Period. To -900 is the first city in Mesoamerica, and perhaps the oldest urban center in the Americas History of excavations San Lorenzo was discovered and excavated by Matthew Stirling and Philip Drucker in 1945. They discovered numerous sculptures, including five of the famous colossal heads. The American archaeologist Michael D. Coe said the excavations in 1964 and devoted three years. Analysis at 14 C allowed to establish the antiquity of San Lorenzo, before La Venta. It was in 1960 that the archaeologist Alfonso Medellin Zenil was discovered in the mountains of Los Tuxtlas basalt quarries, from which probably the sculptures. Between 1990 and 1996 , the "Proyecto Arqueolgico San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan" helped locate many other sculptures. In May 1994 the Tenth was discovered colossal head of the site. Excavations by Ann Cyphers helped establish new radiocarbon dates ( -1700 ). San Lorenzo is actually a set of three sites: San Lorenzo itself, Tenochtitlan and Potrero Nuevo. The choice of these sites was dictated by considerations of geographic proxuimit of a river system supports communications and transportation, as well as the desire to occupy places high enough to get free from seasonal floods. Perched on a plateau overlooking the Ro Coatzacoalcos Basin, 60 km from the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, San Lorenzo itself was a place of residence of the elite that extended 7 km , the rest of the population lived in surrounding agricultural villages. To -1200 , the site should be an island. The history of San Lorenzo is divided into several phases from the Preclassic old. A primitive village occupies the site during the Ojoch phase (1500 BC. - 1350 BC.), Whose pottery has similarities with the contemporary site of El Manati (Manati-A). Bajio phase (1350 BC. - 1250 BC.) Sees an increase of population and development of the plateau, an artificial platform of 1200 meters long and a width of approximately 600 meters , built on a natural knoll. This plate was dug gullies which delimit six peaks. It was once believed they were the result of erosion but they are part of the site development . One can only speculate the reasons for this development, but it certainly indicates the presence of an elite capable of mobilizing manpower needed for important work. During chicharra phase (1250 BC. - 1150 BC.) Appearance of the first monumental sculptures. This period saw a radical modification of ceramics from the site. San Lorenzo phase (1150 - BC. - 900 BC.) Sees the culmination of the site, which controls the basin of the Rio Coatzacoalcos. San Lorenzo reaches an area of 500 hectares and saw the construction of most buildings that are famous. It is difficult to imagine what it was like San Lorenzo at the time. The site is dotted with artificial lakes ("lagunas"), which are the subject of controversy among archaeologists believe they date from the Olmec period and those who feel they are modern . At least ten colossal heads and thrones formed several alignments rituals. It is currently believed that the colossal heads are representations of rulers. Many of these monuments are concentrated in the western part of the plateau. There is a royal residence called "Red Palace" and a workshop of sculptors. It was felt that once the sculptures of San Lorenzo had been mutilated in a revolt that would have ended the local dynasty. Rather it is now believed that the Olmecs of ancient monuments resculpting. The site also includes a system of underground channels made of stones carefully fitted into U, with a slope of 2%. Michael D. Coe once thought that the site had been the victim of a brutal disaster around 900 BC. AD and its monuments mutilated and buried in rows. The site was destroyed "either by invasion or by revolution or by a combination of both." . In the last edition of his book on ancient Mexico, it is much less definite and admits that the evidence supporting this theory are lacking . Richard A. Diehl, one can only speculate the causes of the event . Caterina Magni evokes the thesis advanced by Ann Cyphers that tectonic activity in the area of Los Tuxtlas could have contributed to the decline of the site . Anyway, the San Lorenzo phase is followed by part Nacaste (900 BC. - 700 BC.), Which has delivered no monument and is distinguished by a type Ceramic different. After a hiatus, during phase Palanga (600 BC. - 400 BC.) San Lorenzo is a mere shadow of itself and that is no longer some twenty hectares. This phase is contemporary with the great center of La Venta. It is marked by the construction of a series of mounds. It is unclear whether San Lorenzo dependent on the sale at this time The site
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