La Mojarra
La Mojarra is an archaeological site in the Mexican state of Veracruz, located not far from the Gulf Coast at a bend in the Acula River. It was continually occupied from the late Formative period (ca. 300 BCE) until perhaps as late as 1000 CE.
Not a large site, La Mojarra has been little excavated. It covers roughly 1 km² and consists of small mounds and a modest plaza. Three kilns have been unearthed, which fired locally used orange pottery.
Nonetheless, La Mojarra and environs have yielded two important Epi-Olmec culture artifacts: La Mojarra Stela 1 and the Tuxtla Statuette. Both of these artifacts contain what has been classified as Epi-Olmec script as well as very early Long Count calendar dates.
References
- Diehl, Richard A. (2000) “Mojarra, La (Veraruz, Mexico),” in Archaeology of Ancient Mexico & Central America: an Encyclopedia; Routledge, London.
- Diehl, Richard A. (2004) The Olmecs: America’s First Civilization, Thames & Hudson, London.