Ancient City Found in Mexico

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Olmec-influenced city found in Mexico By MARK STEVENSON, Associated

Press Writer

Thu Jan 25, 6:10 PM ET

 

MEXICO CITY - A 2,500-year-old city influenced by the Olmecs, often

referred to as the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica, has been

discovered hundreds of miles away from the Olmecs' Gulf coast

territory, archaeologists said.

 

The remains of Zazacatla are providing insight into the early arrival

of advanced civilizations in central Mexico, while also providing

lessons about the risks to ruins posed by modern development that now

cover much of the ancient city.

 

Archaeologist Giselle Canto said Wednesday that two statues and

architectural details at the site, 25 miles south of Mexico City,

indicate that the inhabitants of Zazacatla adopted Olmec styles when

they changed from a simple, egalitarian society to a more complex,

hierarchical one.

 

"When their society became stratified, the new rulers needed

emblems ... to justify their rule over people who used to be their

equals," Canto said of the inhabitants, who may not have been

ethnically Olmec, but apparently revered the culture as the most

prestigious.

 

Zazacatla covered less than one square mile between 800 B.C. and 500

B.C. But much of it has been covered by housing and commercial

development extending from Cuernavaca, a city popular with tourists

just seven miles north.

 

"There are 10 housing developments, a gas station, a highway and a

commercial building on the site now," Canto said.

 

Authorities hope to excavate and preserve other pre-Hispanic sites

before they are forgotten or covered over.

 

Since excavation of Zazacatla began last year, archaeologists have

unearthed six buildings, and two sculptures of what appear to be

Olmec-style priests. The sculptures appear to have headdresses

portraying the jaguar, which the Olmecs revered, and other symbols of

status and authority.

 

The Olmecs dominated areas around the Gulf coast states of Veracruz

and Tabasco from 1,200 B.C. to about 400 B.C.

 

Some had speculated that the signs of Olmec influence found at

Zazacatla and other areas far from the Gulf coast might suggest Olmec

settlements, conquests or missionary sites.

 

But Canto said the Olmecs' most famous ceremonial center, about 250

miles east, was too far for direct contact, though trade links may

have existed.

http://news./s/ap/20070125/ap_on_sc/mexico_olmec_city