A 3d model of Complex A, La Venta, Mexico Susan D. Gillespie a,n , Michael Volk b a Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, P.O. Box 117305, Gainesville, FL 32611-7305 USA b Department of Landscape Architecture, University of Florida, P.O. Box 115704, Gainesville, FL 32611-5704 USA article info Article history: Received 21 September 2013 Received in revised form 14 April 2014 Accepted 27 June 2014 Keywords: La Venta Olmec Archival archeology Clay architecture 3d Digital modeling Digitization abstract La Venta was a large regional center located near the Gulf coast in Tabasco, Mexico. From ca. 800–400 BC it was the major Olmec capital in Mesoamerica. Despite its significance La Venta has received little archeological attention. The clay structures of its ritual precinct, Complex A, excavated in the 1940s–50s, were subsequently destroyed. Unfortunately, the published reports on those excavations are inadequate, with misleading archeological drawings. In order to obtain a more precise and comprehensive under- standing of La Venta the original excavation records were consulted, and field drawings and maps were digitized to create more accurate 2d images as well as a 3d model of Complex A. This article summarizes the process of digitizing the archival records and the interpretive benefits from utilizing 3d visualizations of the site. Recounting the process may inform similar projects dependent on archival records when field mapping or excavation are no longer possible. & 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. 1. Introduction 1.1. The importance of La Venta La Venta was a major regional center of the Olmec culture in Mesoamerica. Its apogee is dated to approximately 800–400 BC (uncalibrated), roughly coincident with the Middle Formative period (Pool, 2007: 160). The site is located in the state of Tabasco in southern Mexico 15 km inland from the Gulf coast (González Lauck, 1996: 73). First excavated in the 1940s La Venta became the “type site,” the basis for defining Olmec culture (Grove, 1997), especially its stone-working tradition and distinctive art style. Despite the absence of native stone on the coastal plain La Venta's artisans crafted colossal sculptures out of boulders brought from the Tuxtla Mountains some 100 km to the west, and finely made small objects of serpentine and jadeite, the latter material originating nearly 500 km to the east (Diehl, 2004). Although subsequent research in the Gulf coast area has provided more details on Olmec culture and chronology (Diehl, 2004; Grove, 1997; Pool, 2007), as the regional capital La Venta remains essential for understanding the Middle Formative Olmecs. Furthermore, the complex political and religious institutions evident at La Venta have long been thought to have influenced societal developments in many other parts of Mesoamerica, including neighboring Maya peoples to the east (Coe, 1968; Drucker et al., 1959; González Lauck, 1996). Once shrouded in tropical vegetation, the 1.5 km long civic- ceremonial core of La Venta has now been mapped, revealing over 30 mounds and platforms. The site is dominated by a massive earthen pyramid over 30 m high, perhaps the largest single structure at its time in Mesoamerica (González Lauck, 1988, 1996; Pool, 2007: 157). Just north of the pyramid is a group of clay platforms and small plazas designated Complex A. Excava- tions in Complex A first brought world attention to Olmec culture, revealing richly stocked stone “tombs” and numerous purposely buried clusters of jade and other artifacts (“dedicatory offerings”) (Stirling and Stirling, 1942). The most enigmatic finds at La Venta were three huge mosaic “pavements” all of the same design, crafted out of hundreds of polished rectangular blocks made from imported serpentine. The mosaics, as well as two large deposits of serpentine blocks not forming a design, were laid in great pits and then immediately covered with clay fill. Nothing comparable to these five “massive offerings” is known elsewhere in Mesoamerica (González Lauck, 1996: 78). 1.2. Excavations at La Venta Complex A Although Complex A was small relative to the entire site, it remains the most thoroughly excavated and documented portion of La Venta's civic-ceremonial center. Three major excavation projects were carried out in Complex A: in 1942 directed by Matthew Stirling and Philip Drucker (Drucker, 1952; Stirling and Stirling, 1942); in 1943 directed by Stirling and Waldo Wedel (Drucker, 1952); and in 1955 directed by Drucker and Robert Heizer (Drucker et al., 1959; Drucker and Heizer, 1965, 1975). This last project was the most extensive and was dedicated to Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/daach Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2014.06.001 2212-0548/& 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. n Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: sgillesp@ufl.edu (S.D. Gillespie), mikevolk@ufl.edu (M. Volk). Please cite this article as: Gillespie, S.D., Volk, M., A 3d model of Complex A, La Venta, Mexico. Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.daach.2014.06.001i Digital Applications in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage ∎ (∎∎∎∎) ∎∎∎–∎∎∎