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San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán
17.7536° N, -94.7600° E
About
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán or San Lorenzo is the collective name for three related archaeological sites—San Lorenzo, Tenochtitlán and Potrero Nuevo—located in the southeast portion of the Mexican state of Veracruz. Along with La Venta and Tres Zapotes, it was one of the three major cities of the Olmec, and the major center of Olmec culture from 1400 BCE to 900 BCE. San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán is best known today for the colossal stone heads unearthed there, the greatest of which weigh 28 metric tons (28 long tons; 31 short tons) or more and are 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. The site isn’t to be confused with Tenochtitlan, the Aztec capital located within Mexico City. Administrative names were translated into Aztec/Nahuatl and spread alongside Catholic names during the European conquest, replacing any original locality names, as the original Olmec name was lost.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Earliest ritual deposits at El Manatí
c. 1600 BCE or earlier
Population decline
by 800 BCE
Remplás phase
ca. 300–50 BCE
Recolonization episodes
600–400 BCE and c. 800–1000 CE
Palangana phase
ca. 800–400 BCE
Nacaste phase
ca. 1000–800 BCE
Peak urban dominance
c. 1200–900 BCE
San Lorenzo florescence
ca. 1400–1000 BCE
San Lorenzo major centre span
1400–900 BCE
Chicharras phase
ca. 1450–1400 BCE
Bajío phase
ca. 1550–1450 BCE
Ojochi phase
ca. 1750–1550 BCE
Early scientific visits and naming
1938 and 1955
20th-century excavations
1946–1970
Yale field project
1966–1968
Renewed archaeological program
1990
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Water Management Features
Public and Civic Structures
Religious and Ritual Structures
Artistic and Decorative Features
Agricultural and Land Use Features
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
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