Tres Zapotes

Tres Zapotes is a Mesoamerican archaeological site located in the south-central Gulf Lowlands of Mexico in the Papaloapan River plain [1]. Founded some time in the centuries before 1000 BCE, Tres Zapotes emerged as a regional center early in the Middle Formative period, perhaps 900 - 800 BCE [1]. Most of the monumental sculpture at Tres Zapotes is epi-Olmec, dating from the Late Formative period [1]. Although the Classic era, starting roughly 300 CE, saw continued mound construction and Tres Zapotes remained a regional center, the era nonetheless brought a perceptible decline in Tres Zapotes' fortunes [1]. Tres Zapotes may have been abandoned by 900 CE, although there was a smaller and later occupation [1]. In 1939, archaeologist Matthew Stirling discovered at Tres Zapotes the bottom half of Stela C. This stela was carved from basalt [1]. The back of Stela C is engraved with one of the few surviving examples of Epi-Olmec script [1]. Over 160 mounds, platforms, and similar structures have been identified at Tres Zapotes, most of these being low residential platforms [1].