Figure 1.--This terracotta figure depicting a very young boy was found in Veracruz and has been dated to 550-850 AD. The fact that he wears a kind of cap, earrings and a neclace before clothes suggest that a child from a noble family is being depicted. Source: Xalapa Museum, Veracruz.

A relatively new culture to be identified in Meso-America is the Classic Veracruz culture, sometimes referred to as Gulf Coast Classic culture, Since the 1950s, large numbers of artifacts have been found in the north and central areas of the Mexican Gulf of Mexico coast state of Veracruz. The culture has been dated to about 100-1000 AD. The best known site is El Tajin. Archaelohists have found influences from the west (Teotihuacan) and south (the Maya). The Veracruz culture ,however, seems to have evolved from the Epi-Olmec (post-Olmec). Some authors connect the Classic Veracruz culture with the Totonacs, who populated Veracruz at the time of the Spanish Conquest of Mexico. Archaeologists have found, however, little evidence of cultural connections.

Created: 8:38 AM 6/23/2010
Last updated: 8:38 AM 6/23/2010