Isla Agaltepec: Postclassic Occupation in the Tuxtla Mountains, Veracruz, México

Fieldwork on Isla Agaltepec

Isla Agaltepec is situated in Lake Catemaco, approximately 400 m offshore and east of the modern day village of Catemaco, Veracruz (Figure 2). The island has a slight crescent shape and covers approximately 8.5 ha; it measures about 750 m SW to NE and is about 150 m at its widest, central point. A high, steep ridge (approximately 30 m high) marks the center of the island; this ridge declines and flattens out on both ends of the island.

Per the conditions of our fieldwork permit, the total number of archaeologists working on any portion of Isla Agaltepec was limited to a maximum of four. As a result, and based on our initial reconnaissance of the island, we established three different work zones or areas (Figure 3). In this way the entire crew could be positioned within the field without threatening the island’s delicate ecology or interfering with ongoing biological field studies.

Area "A" comprises the W-SW portion of the island and includes a modest mound-and-patio group. This group consists of three low mounds (ca. 1 m) situated along the north, west, and south sides of the patio with a larger mound (ca. 4 m) that dominates the patio’s northeastern edge. This larger mound (Structure A-1) was apparently constructed by modifying the steep slope that leads upwards to the island’s central ridge and Area B. The interior patio created by these four structures measures about 25 m east-to-west and 20 m north-to-south. The island is approximately 35 meters wide at this southwestern end and remnants of artificial retaining walls are visible along both shorelines (e.g., Coe 1965).

The central ridge or spine of the island is identified as Area "B." Although the ridge was originally a natural feature, it was subsequently modified to create a series of narrow artificial terraces ranging between 15 to 25 m wide. A series of low mounds (ca. 1.5-2 m) extends along the upper portion of Area B.

The three low mounds within Area B may have functioned as residential platforms. These platforms are positioned in a linear fashion along the ridge top, spaced between 17 and 20 m apart. Area B also exhibits several circular and rectangular arrangements of stone that may have served as foundations for wattle-and-daub or other perishable structures. These features were located both adjacent to mounds as well as isolated on lower terraces. There was no evidence for additional courses of stone associated with these features although, if originally present, wall fall may have been pilfered for other construction activities.

Area "C", or the Valenzuela Complex, is located within the northeastern section of Isla Agaltepec and contains the island’s largest architecture (Valenzuela 1937; 1945) (Figure 4). The layout of this complex suggests fortification; it consists of a rectangular series of long range mounds that enclose an interior area of approximately 4000 sq m. A large pyramid (C-1) marks the eastern side of the complex and rises to a height of approximately 9 m.

Several of the range mounds lie along the edge of the island, creating a steep drop of 20-25 m to the water below. Finally, the architectural layout of Area C reveals only two ground-level access points into the enclosure; these openings occur on opposite sides of the compound. The northwestern opening leads down to the shore of the island, where a series of terraces and a staircase indicates an embarkation point. The other opening leads towards the east, but we were unable to identify any clear endpoint associated with this access point.

All three areas were subject to systematic surface survey and a more opportunistic profiling of looters’ pits. Systematic survey included placing 3 × 3 m collection units spaced 5 m apart. We originally planned to space these collections every 10 m, but the dense growth and "no-cut" restrictions of our fieldwork permit conspired against that survey design. All artifacts encountered within the survey squares were collected, counted, and weighed. This research design helps to insure comparability with other survey activities undertaken within the Tuxtlas region (Santley and Arnold 1996; Santley et al. 1987).

The three looters’ pits selected for profiling were chosen primarily based on the opportunity to investigate standing architecture. Two factors informed our selections. First, of primary importance was the recovery of information relative to sequential building episodes, specifically with the hope of acquiring radiocarbon samples. Second, we hoped that the fill of these buildings might provide diagnostic ceramics that could complement our analysis of surface artifacts and our estimates for the island’s occupational history.

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