La Mojarra

La Mojarra is an archaeological site along the Acula River in Veracruz with several small mounds arranged around a central plaza. The excavated area reveals residential spaces and production facilities that show how people lived and worked across different time periods.

The settlement was continuously inhabited from around 300 BCE until 1000 CE, showing over a thousand years of human presence at this Gulf Coast location. This long timespan suggests the area remained stable and attractive enough for successive populations to settle there repeatedly.

The site shows skilled craftsmanship through excavated pottery kilns where specialized orange ceramics were produced for regional trade. These goods demonstrate how the settlement connected economically to other communities across the Gulf Coast region.

The site sits in a remote location and is difficult to access, so a visit should be planned well in advance. Facilities on site are minimal, so it makes sense to bring what you need from elsewhere.

A stela discovered in 1986 contains over 500 glyphs in an early script along with two calendar dates, showing the residents used a sophisticated counting system. This stone carving is one of the key sources for understanding this ancient writing form in Mesoamerica.