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Mexico Travel :: State of Tabasco

The steamy Gulf state of Tabasco was the site of La Venta, the largest Olmec city, which contained 18,000 inhabitants at its zenith between 800 and 500 BC. On an island on the Tonala River delta 15 kilometers (nine miles) from the Gulf, archeologists found the remains of a 34-meter (112-foot)-tall ceremonial mound, four colossal heads, mosaic floors in the shape of jaguar masks and tombs made of basalt pillars, containing offerings of jade figurines arranged in circular ceremonial scenes. Between AD 200 and 900, Tabasco lay on the western border of the Classic Maya expansion. The only major site was Comalcalco, northwest of Villahermosa. After AD 900, the state was the home of the Chontal-speaking Putun Maya, who were known to the Aztecs as the Olmeca-Xicallanca. These aggressive traders penetrated as far as Oaxaca, Cholula and Cacaxtla in central Mexico; not much is known about their culture along the Gulf coast.

In 1518, Juan de Grijalva landed in Tabasco, and he was soon followed by Cortes, who landed his expedition at a Putun Maya town called Potonchan. The Spanish won a bloody victory against a large Maya army near a town up the Rio Grijalva named Tabasco (now Villahermosa) and were given a peace offering of 20 Indian maidens. Among them was La Malinche, whose assistance proved crucial to the Spanish effort. Cortes passed through the region again in 1525 on his expedition to Honduras, but the state wasn't conquered until the next decade by Francisco de Montejo. Spanish colonization arrived slowly in Tabasco due to its isolation and lack of rich resources to exploit. During the last three decades, huge oil deposits have been found underneath and offshore Tabasco; the state is now booming with petroleum-induced prosperity.

Featured Mexico Travel Destinations

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Mexico rejects US border fences

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Schwarzenegger travels to Mexico to improve image with Hispanics

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