Tres Zapotes

Tres Zapotes is an archaeological site in Santiago Tuxtla, Mexico, with four artificial mounds and wide ceremonial plazas spread across two square kilometers. The tallest structure rises about 18 meters above flat plains surrounded by low walls and stone platforms.

The settlement began around 1500 BCE during the Olmec period and remained inhabited until roughly 500 BCE. Archaeologists uncovered Stela C in 1939, bearing the earliest known Maya numeral inscription and linking two ancient civilizations.

The name comes from Spanish and means "three sandals", referring to ceramic pieces found during early excavations. Visitors today walk across restored earth mounds and open plazas where ceremonies once gathered thousands of participants.

The site opens daily from 9 AM to 5 PM, with guided tours starting at the visitor center in Spanish and English. Paths between the mounds are mostly flat, though the ground can become slippery after rain.

The local museum in Santiago Tuxtla displays two monumental stone heads excavated here, each weighing several tons. Each head carries different facial features and headdresses, suggesting individual rulers or warriors.