Mayan Archaeological Sites in Yucatán
Archaeological Sites in Oaxaca
Archaeological Sites in Chiapas
Arqueología Campeche
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
Mayan Archaeological Sites in Yucatán
Archaeological Sites in Oaxaca
Arqueología Chihuahua
Arqueología Campeche
Northern Mexico
Central Mexico
Southern Mexico
It is one of the oldest in Mesoamerica.
This site is the most important civic-religious center of the Olmec culture.
In addition, here was found one of the earliest known pyramidal structures. The settlement was inhabited from the year 5000 B.C until the year 400 A.D.
The legendary Olmec culture is considered to be the oldest known civilization in Mesoamerica and seems to have originated in the border area of Chiapas and Guatemala. And this site was a major regional center of the this culture.
Around the year 1000 a. C. there was a more complex network of rivers and lagoons in the region than today. This led to the abundance of flora and fauna resources that should have been used by the inhabitants of the area. The river network formed a communication system and helped the site to become a major trade center.
Between about 800 and 400 B.C. La Venta was the most important settlement in Mesoamerica and large structures were built from compacted earth and the use of natural tar, because there were not stone quarries in the area.
La Venta
Must see Buildings
This was a planned settlement and this can be seen from the way the 32 mounds are arrange. There are also several altars and squares distributed in ten architectural groups.
All its major structures are set on an axis 8° west of north; they were probably originally aligned with some star or constellation and reached up to 100 feet in height on broad terraces.
The most amazing feature of this site are the enormous stone sculptures weighing up to 35 tons since the basalt was quarried about 80 miles west of La Venta.
The massive stones were carved with extraordinary skill in the shape of a human or as a mythical character combining animal and human forms.
The city’s most valuable remains are grouped into four groups.
Complex A
It includes ceremonial enclosure containing a number of tombs with rich offering with a number of ítems, many of which were made from jade. The northern courtyard is enclosed by a series of basalt columns.
Complex B
It is a large ceremonial space on a spectacular platform and to the north is the Stirling Acropolis where numerous whole and fragmentary monuments have been discovered.
Complex C
It includes the Great Pyramid, a 100-foot- (30-metre-) high clay mound shaped like a fluted cone, which some archaeologists believe represents a volcano, where six magnificent sculptures were discovered, now these sculptures are exhibit at the Site Museum.
Complex D
It includes more than 20 platforms and two amazing sculptures. Building D-7 is distinguished as it is not fully aligned with the row of platforms. On the surface of this building there is a group of three sculptures.. Se distingue el Edificio D-7 que no está alineado plenamente con la hilera de plataformas. Sobre la superficie de este edificio hay un conjunto de tres esculturas.
La Venta Site Museum
The museum exhibit more than 200 pieces from the region, including three badly weathered Olmec heads, plus replicas of some of the finest sculptures that are no longer here. Smaller artifacts include jade ornaments and polished iron-ore mirrors.
Location
La Venta is located in the northwest of the state of Tabasco 121 km from the city of Villahermosa. To access it, take federal highway No. 180. Villa La Venta, Huimanguillo, Tab.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 hrs.
English 
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