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

Summary and Significance

Our preliminary fieldwork at Isla Agaltepec provides important new data on the Postclassic occupation within the Sierra de los Tuxtlas. Previous archaeological research in this area has not been able to identify a clear, distinct Postclassic component, despite ethnohistoric evidence for occupation at the time of contact (e.g., Esquivias 2002; Scholes and Warren 1965; Stark 1978). Identifying this occupation becomes all the more crucial as models of Mexican Postclassic regional geographies continue to be revisited (Barlow 1949; Carrasco 1999; Smith and Berdan 2003).

Our Agaltepec investigations provide the first conclusive archaeological evidence for a strong Postclassic presence in the Tuxtlas. Moreover, this research suggests that the island may have been initially occupied during the early portion of the Postclassic. This occupation would coincide with the apparent fortified construction of the Valenzuela Complex. It is tempting to relate the need for fortification to the general political context of Early Postclassic México (e.g., Diehl and Berlo 1989), but we currently lack sufficient data to make such a case. Nonetheless, given the apparent continuity in ceramics from the Classic Period, it would seem reasonable to suggest that the fortification was occupied by long-time residents of the area, rather than newcomers. Additional fieldwork would clarify this context considerably.

A later Postclassic occupation is implicated by the artifact patterning in Areas A and B. Nonetheless, the scale of this presence is much smaller than that noted for Area C. It may well be that, by the time the Triple Alliance became interested in the Tuxtla region the function of Isla Agaltepec had undergone a fundamental transition. For example, Area B appears to represent a residential occupation. The architectural data do not suggest a long-term presence, nor do the surface data from Area B indicate a particularly intensive occupation. However, it is clear that surface patterns within some portions of Area B may not accurately reflect sub-surface material densities.

In sum, Isla Agaltepec offers a unique archaeological resource in the Tuxtla Mountains. To date, it remains the only site with an intensive, unambiguous Postclassic presence; furthermore, the scale of architectural construction rivals that from other sites in the area. The use of the island for such large-scale construction efforts is intriguing and suggests a serious desire for protection in the face of heightened regional competition.

The island’s current status as a biological preserve is both a boon and a bane in terms of protecting this archaeological resource. Restrictions on using the island (Figure 18, shown below) help to minimize the large scale destruction that has sadly impacted other sites in the region. Nonetheless, looters are not dissuaded by such restrictions; clandestine operations remain an on-going threat and such activities have not been systematically reported to INAH officials. Our continued cooperative efforts with the Universidad Veracruzana will help protect the site while permitting additional archaeological research on this crucial precolumbian resource in the Tuxtla Mountains.

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