La Venta is one of the largest and most famous of Olmec cities located in the area of southern Tobasco and Veracruz. The city is located in Mexico on the northeastern coast of Mesoamerica. Other Olmec centers developed at San Lorenzo and Laguna de los Cerros. These cities were not only religious sites, but active settlements that housed artisans and farmers, as well as religious specialists. La Venta was inhabited by people of the Olmec Culture by 800 BC until 400 BC after which the site seems to have been abandoned.
Though little is known about everyday La Venta life, it is thought that subsistence was obtained by hunting, fishing and horticultural practices. Houses were constructed of wood, clay and palm leaves.
Stone alter at La Venta
The site is known for its large stone sculptures. Some stones at the site are from as far away as 60 miles, weighing over 4 tons. Other sculptures, in stone and jade, include depictions of monkeys, serpents and the jaguar. A human-like jaguar figure, was one of the major themes in Olmec culture. It may have been seen as a super-natural entity.
Olmec sculpture
La Venta was a religious and trade center. The center of the city was built on top of a high mound structure.
Another primary activity at La Venta was the import and export of trade goods. Trade was made possible by easy access to rivers and the Gulf of Mexico. Strong allies were made through trade relations.
Drucker, Philip
1959 Excavations at La Venta, Tabasco, 1955. Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office.
Regents of the University of California
1963 The Excavations at La Venta. 29 min. Motion Picture Production, University of California.
Former Link: http://www.dallas.net/~lalo/laventa2.html
Click here for Spanish version