The Redención del Campesino Valley Archaeological Survey

Ejido Redención del Campesino

Centrally located within the valley, judging by its extent this is by all means a site of major political importance within the Redención del Campesino valley site hierarchy. This site was previously recorded by the Atlas Arqueológico de Tabasco project as site E15D362705 (Redención del Campesino), with an extent of 104 hectares and a total of 7 structures. However, our survey revealed that the site may be over 128 hectares in extent of at least 30 structures distributed in four distinct groups temporarily dubbed Groups A, B, C and D (Figure 9).

Group A: Located at the central plaza of the present day community of Redención del Campesino, Group A consists of a big multi-structured platform mound of at least 80 × 80 m area, and about 8 m high (Plate 10, shown above). The platform was built with coarse undressed limestone and packed dirt, taking advantage of an existing rock outcrop. This group has been considerably affected due to the urban growth of the present day village (Plate 11, shown below). The western portion of the main ground has been dug and leveled to support a series of houses and various smaller mounds were completely leveled and used as fill for the construction of the road and house foundations. A small platform located to the east of the main mound is now covered by a small dancing platform (Plate 12, shown below). Throughout the present village ceramic shards were noted to abound thus giving us an idea of the site density.

Group B: This group consists of a series of low rectangular platforms, a distinct patio group and a large multi-structure platform (Plate 13, shown below). The patio group measures approximately 20 m × 10 m surrounded on all four sides by low platforms approximately 1.5 m high. To the north of the patio group five other low rectangular platforms were recorded, some of which a course of medium-sized dressed limestone blocks were still present (Figure 10).

About 200 m to the northwest of the patio group is a more sizeable platform. It measures approximately 70 m × 40 m and 4 m above the surface. Pothunters have heavily affected this platform as it presents several deep looters’ pits. Nevertheless, enough remains of the structure to discern that it contained various mounds and platforms at its summit.

Group C: This group is formed by a series of low mounds without a formal pattern built taking advantage of the knolls characteristic of the foothills of the nearby sierra (Plate 14, shown below). Various metate fragments and pottery shards were observed scattered around these mounds.

Group D: This is by far the biggest mound group of Redención del Campesino (Figure 11). Except for Mound 1 that is completely covered by secondary overgrowth, this group is located on pasture land. Mound 1 is approximately 30 m × 30 m, and 8 m high. The structure was built with a core of amorphous limestone and packed dirt covered with a veneer of well-dressed small to medium-sized limestone blocks. At its summit a big looters’ pit was noted, our informant told us that not too long ago, remains of a standing wall could still be seen. However, due to the dense vegetation overgrowth it was impossible for us to assess if the quality of the debris suggested the presence of a masonry structure at the summit, or the presence of other lower structures adjacent to this mound.

About 350 m to the southwest of Mound 1 lies what could well have been the core area of the site. It consists of a platform and mound group laid out in a plaza of 280 m × 200 m.  Two large longitudinal platforms limit the north and southern limits of the plaza. The northern structure, Platform 2, is 95 m long × 22 m wide, rising some 8 m above the plaza surface. At its summit two low platforms are located at its eastern and western ends. No evidence suggesting the presence of masonry superstructures was observed. Platform 3 marks the southern boundary of the plaza. It is about 175 m long × 32 m wide, reaching an elevation of almost 10 m above the plaza surface (Plate 15, shown above). Two low platforms limit the western end of the platform. Towards the central section lies a platform that supports a small patio group. This group consists of three low platforms limiting the north, south and west sides and a higher 2 m mound enclosing the east side. Platform 3 slopes gently to the southeast following the natural terrain.

Mounds 4 and 5 limit the eastern end of the plaza. Mound 4 is a 25 m × 17 m square plant platform about 5 m high (Plate 16, shown above), no evidence of a permanent masonry structure was observed at the top. Right behind this structure lays Mound 5; this is a 120 m × 90 m platform 7 to 8 m high. Three other masonry structures lie at the summit of this platform, the tallest of which rises almost 4 m above the platform floor (Plate 17, below).

The Atlas Arqueológico site E15D3627056 Redención del Campesino, was also visited. The records indicate that this site has an extent of 85 hectares, and contains 13 structures. Unfortunately the site has been irremediably ravaged by the urban development. Its masonry structures have been used as fill material for construction of the road, dwellings, and the village water tank (Plate 18, below). Our local informants mentioned that the site was composed of long low platforms arranged in a longitudinal layout.

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