The Chacalapan Geophysical Survey, Veracruz, México

Interpretations

The Interpretations section is broken down into several parts consisting of descriptions of a test over buried basalt and the two surveyed sites: Cinco Cerros and El Tecolote (Figure 2). The test was conducted at El Tecolote and was meant to identify the magnetic signature of basalt. The bulk of the survey was performed at El Tecolote because that site was thought to be a better candidate for a Postclassic presence.

Basalt Test

Basalt is a heavy volcanic stone used in prehispanic times for statuary and grinding stones called metates. It is available in quantity from the nearby Tuxtla Mountains and as small cobbles washed downriver from the mountains during violent rainy season storms. A 5 x 5-meter grid was laid out and tested with the magnetometer to ensure that there was not a strong anomaly present (Figure 3). A basalt cobble of approximately 15 kilograms was obtained from the nearby Río San Andrés rivercut and buried at a depth of 50 cm. The area was resurveyed. As can be seen from the map plot, the difference is dramatic. The basalt cobble produced a very distinct dipole reading.

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