PIECING TOGETHER THE PAST THROUGH TIME: A CERAMIC ANALYSIS OF LOS SOLDADOS, MEXICO

Abstract: The Olmec Civilization of the Gulf Coast lowlands is central to understanding the Formative period (2000-400 BCE) in Mesoamerican prehistory, yet the development of a universal chronology for the Olmec Heartland remains inconsistent. This difficulty is severely compounded by the Hallstatt Plateau (ca. 800-400 BCE), a segment of the radiocarbon record where date precision is significantly reduced, hindering the ability to establish clear chronological divisions. This research addresses this critical gap by analyzing ceramic attributes collected from Early to Late Formative contexts at the site of Los Soldados, a secondary Olmec settlement located near La Venta, Mexico. Utilizing data from the Proyecto Arqeológico Arroyo Pesquero (PAAP), the central objective is to determine if identifiable pottery attributes can be reliably utilized as relative chronological indicators to better differentiate phases within the plateau. Furthermore, this study tests whether the ceramic findings align with established regional chronologies. By identifying diagnostic ceramic traits and comparing them to existing seriation studies from proximal sites. The research proposes a refined relative dating method to supplement absolute dating techniques, thereby contributing essential reliable data toward the development of a unified chronology for the Olmec Heartland.