Mexican monolith could change history

3,000-year-old carvings contain ‘new symbols in Mesoamerica’

MEXICO CITY – A carved monolith unearthed in Mexico may show that the Olmec civilization, one of the oldest in the Americas, was more widespread than thought or that another culture thrived alongside it 3,000 years ago.

Findings at the newly excavated Tamtoc archaeological site in the north-central state of San Luis Potosi may prompt scholars to rethink a view of Mesoamerican history that holds its earliest peoples were based in the south of Mexico.

“It is a very relevant indicator of an Olmec penetration far to the north, or of the presence of a new group co-existing with the Olmecs,” said archaeologist Guillermo Ahuja, who led a government team excavating the site for the past five years.

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http://articles.latimes.com/2006/may/13/science/sci-monolith13

Gary C. Daniels

Gary C. Daniels is an award-winning, Emmy-nominated television, video and multimedia writer and producer. He has a M.A. degree in Communications from Georgia State University in Atlanta, a B.F.A. degree in TV Production from the Savannah College of Art and Design and an A.A. degree in Art from the College of Coastal Georgia. He has appeared on the Travel Channel, Discovery Channel, Science Channel and History Channel. His History Channel appearance became the highest-rated episode in the network's history. He has a passion for Native American history and art. He is the founder and publisher of LostWorlds.org.

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