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| The San Lorenzo Museum |
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| The San Lorenzo Museum. Colossal Giant Olmec Head 10. |
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| The San Lorenzo Museum. Statue Of King, U Kish Can. Born March 8, 993 B.C. |
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| The San Lorenzo Museum |
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| The San Lorenzo Museum. Colossal Giant Olmec Head 10. |
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| The San Lorenzo Museum. Statue Of King, U Kish Can. Born March 8, 993 B.C. |
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan (Tenochtitlán) is located about 35 km SE of Acayucan in the hot, swampy lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico, just south of Veracruz, near the small town of Tenochtitlán. Tenochtitlán is a municipality (municipio) in in the Mexican State of Veracruz, southeastern Mexico, and the name of the main township which serves as the seat of the municipal government. It is located in the foothills of the Sierra Madre, with the township lying at an altitude of approximately 2,953 feet. In the year 2000 census, the municipality of Tenochtitlán reported a total population of slightly over 5,600 people. The same census also revealed that Tenochtitlán had no hotels, no restaurants, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan is the oldest of the three large Olmec ceremonial centers in Tabasco and Veracruz. One of these sites is at La Venta in Tabasco, the other two are at San Lorenzo in Veracruz and Laguna de los Cerros in Veracruz.. San Lorenzo was at its height of power between about 1200 BC. - 900 BC. At that time period it is estimated that it may have had a population of about 10,500 - 17,500 people. San Lorenzo was built on a natural plateau that was modified by building large artificial ridges. San Lorenzo was continually occupied from about 1500 B.C. to 400 B.C. San Lorenzo had a very dramatic end to its power in about 900 BC. At that time almost all of its large sculptures were defaced and/or destroyed. Many were dragged out to the ridges near the city and they were covered with earth. One very important feature of San Lorenzo was that it had a very elaborate drainage system constructed of stone carved pipes with lids. Some of these are in the photos below. The other major characteristic of the sculpture work at San Lorenzo is the large Olmec heads that weigh as much as 40 tons and stand up to 3 meters high. The stone used to create these heads was carried by sledges and rafts to the city from the volcanic Tuxtla Mountains, about 60 miles away. Ten of the large Olmec heads and many other artifacts were found here. Most of these are now in museums throughout Mexico. The best seem to be at the Olmec Museum in Jalapa (Xalapa), Mexico. Some of the artifacts were of large stone thrones with sculptures of rulers carved on the sides of the thrones. These were carved from basalt imported from the Sierra de los Tuxlas. Another interesting black stone tool is found in the area of San Lorenzo. One researcher, Roberto Velázquez Cabrera, thinks the stone is made of Ilminite (FeTiO3), a natural ore for titanium! He thinks the stone may be some sort of tool for generating sound waves. Be sure to have a good deet mosqueto repellant on when visiting the area. A Google Earth Map search marks the center of Tenochtitlán at about 17o 45' 23.19" N 94o 45' 33.79" W. The caretakers keep the grass and weeds nicely cut and trimmed. The museum and restrooms are clean.
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| Entrance To The San Lorenzo Museum |
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| San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan Entrance Sign | San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan Museum |
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| Statue Of King, U Kish Can Born March 8, 993 B.C. | Olmec Drain Water Pipes Made Of Carved Basalt Rock May Have Been For Drinking Water |
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| Colossal Head No 10 | Jaguar Human Sculpture |
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| Stone Ball | Stone Ball |
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| The "Monster Of The Earth" Monument | |
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| Part Of A head | |
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| Zoomorph Of Owl | What Is George Looking At? |
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| Thousands Of These | Have Been Found |
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| One Idea Is That They Are Whistles Perhaps Fish Net Weights? | Another Is That They May Have Been Tied Together To Make Armor |
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| Colossal Head No 10 Back View | Colossal Head No 10 Front View |
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