La Venta, Complex A,
Mexico Archaeological Ruins
Travel Pictures And Photos

George And Audrey DeLange

LA VENTA, Complex A. This is the ceremonial center of this ancient city. It is composed of earth platforms which are laid out symetrically around two courtyards. It is a complex of basalt boundary posts, rectangular earth mounds, pyramids (one with basalt sarcophagus and buried basalt post and lintel enclosure), buried stone pavements, jaguar masks, sunken courts, and buried offerings of figurines and celts. During the excavations carried out in 1942, 1943, and 1955, more than 50 offerings were found of votive candles, clay vessels, jewelry, jade figurines, and sixteen stone sculptures. A group of basalt columns mark the east and west boundary of the Northern Courtyard. Mound A - 2 marks the Northern boundary, which contains a tomb made up of basalt columns which resemble logs. Inside the tomb were found the remains of two young people who were covered in very rich jade jewelry. To the South, were two small adobe mounds under which massive offerings were discovered. Each of these consisted of an artificial cavity within which a stone platform was built. On this was placed an avbstract designed mosaic composed of serpentine blocks and covered with clays and the above mentioned mounds. Complex A was severely damaged from 1950 to 1987 due to the extraction of oil by the Government Of Mexico. The major portion of the discoveries at this site were taken to the museums of Villahermosa and Mexico City. These photos were taken January 27, 2004. About 10:00 AM.