San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán

Located on the Río Chiquito 45km/28mi or so south of Minatitlán (and somewhat difficult of access) is the San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán archaeological zone, site of the earliest known centre of Olmec culture on the Gulf coast (it flourished between 1400 and 1200 bc). Here numerous ritually mutilated stone images were found. Originally connected in some way with the death of a ruler of the time, they had later been buried, presumably when the culture went into decline. Artefacts from San Lorenzo can be seen in several Mexican museums, but particularly those in Jalapa and Villahermosa.