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Location: Stela A was discovered by Stirling during the 1938-39 field season lying face up on the surface of the plaza south of Structure 22, Group 2. Though Stirling's text asserts it was found at the southern base of Structure 18 (Mound 2L) his published photographs of the stela in situ (Plate 2b) and Weiant's map (1943:5) place it securely in the plaza south of Structure 22 (Stirling 1943). Stela A was moved to the site museum at its dedication in 1975.
Associations: The full report on the discovery of Stela A follows. "Excavation around this stela produced four Tres Zapotes figurines, an effigy of the king vulture, and an extensive cache of obsidian flakes which included many complete knives. All artifacts were close to the surface. Below them lay about 1 meter of sterile soil, which, in turn, rested upon a clay floor, the floor that originally supported the stela. The sterile deposit had evidently accumulated after the fall of the stela." (Weiant 1943:7).
Condition: Broken in two, large flakes are missing from upper right of bottom fragment, lower right of upper fragment and upper left side has exfoliated. Face of central figure mutilated by removal. Overall preservation very poor, unlikely any original carved surface remains. Remaining suggestions of sculpture all severely eroded due to the poor quality of the stone, see Material.
Photographs, Present report: Plate 2, 3; Stirling 1939:200, 1943: Plates 2b, 12a,b.
Drawings, Present report: Figures 1, 2, 3; Stirling 1943: Figure 3; Smith 1963: Figures 139, 140; Bernal 1968: Figure 21; Schau 1983: Figure 150.
References: Stirling 1939, 1943; Kubler 1962; Smith 1963; Coe 1965a; Stirling 1965; Bernal 1968; Wicke 1971; de la Fuente 1973.
Carved Areas: Class 3: FRL. Front carved with a single large figure in front view in the half round flanked by low relief figures to the left and right. Central portion of right side preserves the remains of two relief animals. Two human figures in relief on upper and lower left side.
Material: The monument is carved from a soft and friable "volcanic breccia" (Stirling 1943:14) with pebble inclusions of up to 20 cm.
Dimensions: Height 530 cm, Width 200 cm, Depth 45 cm.
Shape: Slabular with overhanging projections in front above and below scene.
Monument Type: Proscenium, front face divided into three horizontal zones. Basal design/lower jaw. Figure or figures in static pose. Upper portion of a grotesque face.
Description: The stone is carved on the sides and front. The back has been dressed and the bottom has been left unworked. The top and front of the stone present a single unified theme, while the sides present other themes. The front of Stela A is divided into three horizontal zones.
The lower zone is extended to suggest the lower jaw of a mouth within which is the figural scene. On the forward edge of the extension is an elaborate Olmec grotesque with buccal mask. The grotesque has a buccal mask with a bracket shaped upper lip below which two great triangular fangs emerge. Above the buccal mask is a broad flat nose with indications of drilled holes for nostrils. To either side of the nose are deep set eye sockets containing slit eyes with broad "U" elements for pupils. The nasion is rectangular and above each eye is a supraorbital plate.
The middle zone contains a figural composition in half-round and relief. A single large figure, Figure A, stands in front view in the half round flanked by low relief figures to the left, Figure B, and right, Figure C.
Figure A: Figure A stands in frontal view with feet pointing slightly outward in a natural standing position. The arms are both bent at the elbow and , though the hands are missing, approximates the Maya serpent bar grasping pose. No detail has survived though the figure manifests the inflated monumentality so characteristic of Olmec sculpture. The scar of a tall headdress with vertical side panels is all that remains of Figure A's headgear. The feet are sufficiently well preserved to suggest the figure was barefoot.
Figure B: Figure B stands in right profile with feet one behind the other and legs separated to the knees. The shoulders are in front view, the left arm is extended to the front and the right arm hangs behind the figure. The extended left hand holds a short staff or baton. This figure has a large headdress secured by a strap passing under the chin. Above the head is a large crest, most likely of feathers.
Above Figure B's crest are a number of indistinct elements which may be remnants of an exfoliated "sky figure".
Figure C: Figure C stands in left profile with feet one behind the other and legs separated to the knees. The shoulders are in front view, the right arm is extended to the front and the left arm hangs behind the figure. The extended right hand holds a short staff or rod. This figure also once had a large headdress secured by a strap passing under the chin, but only traces of this remain.
The upper zone is separated from the middle zone by a three member molding. Above this molding is an elaborate Olmec grotesque.
The face of the grotesque above the molding is dominated by a buccal mask with bracket shaped upper lip and bow shaped lower lip. The corners of the mouth are drilled and extend beyond the sides of the upper lip. Within the mouth two great curving fangs emerge from the upper gum and terminate inside the mouth on either side of the chin. Above the buccal mask is a broad flat nose with drilled holes for nostrils. To either side of the nose are deep set bracket shaped eye sockets containing slit eyes with broad "U" elements for pupils. The nasion is trapezoidal and a flame supraorbital feature is above each eye.
Above the mask is a cartouche containing crossed bands with a superimposed upright band. To the right and left of the cartouche are three horizontal feathers. A trident form surmounts the cartouche.
Right Side: The upper and lower portions of the right side of Stela A are completely obliterated. However, the central portion preserves the remains of two non-human figures Figure D, upper, and Figure E, lower with traces of an ornamental scroll border.
Figure D presents the descending right profile of a feline with undulant outlines and scrolled tail. The hind leg is tightly flexed within the outline of the raised hindquarter and the foreleg is extended beneath the lowered torso. The claws of all the feet are clearly separated into hindclaw and foreclaws. Unfortunately the head is completely effaced and no details of the pelt remain. Between the front and rear paws are remnants of a scrolled border ornamenting the rear of the left side.
Figure E presents the ascending left profile of an ophidian with open mouth and undulant outlines. The body disappears into a large mass, either a complex knot or a grotesque head. The top of the serpent's head has been chipped off along with the corner of the left side but the jaws show well developed tooth bands and fangs. Below the lower jaw are three scrolls from the scrolled border.
Left Side: The central portion of the left side of stela A has been broken away. However, the upper portion preserves the remains of one figure, Figure F, and the lower portion preserves another, Figure G. Doubtless, other figures were originally present.
Figure F presents the descending left profile of a pudgy individual with bare feet, banded anklets, loin cloth and a wide belt. Unfortunately the remainder of the, relatively, well preserved figure has exfoliated. Above the soles of the feet are three scrolls from the border ornamenting the forward face of the right side.
Figure G presents the crouching right profile of a second pudgy individual with bare feet, banded anklets, loin cloth, wide belt, banded wristlets and an ax or manikin scepter in his raised right hand. The scar where the head, in right profile, was suggests Figure G had an ordinary human profile. In front of Figure G are several scrolls from the border ornamenting the rear face of the right side.
Remarks: Concerning this monument Coe asserts "the scene is not Olmec. The two flanking figures carry a knife and a severed head, respectively; head-taking is an Izapan trait." (Coe 1965b:773). Apparently Coe has never seen Stela A and has based his discussion of the sculpture on Cassedy's incompetent drawing. Also Coe's list of iconographic elements demonstrates his confusion of content with style. The obvious formal resemblance between Stela A and La Venta Stela 2, with their half round central figures and relief subsidiaries, leaves no doubt concerning the Olmec style of this sculpture. Even the iconography of the sculpture does not support Coe's assertion that "the scene is not Olmec". The grotesque masks above and below the scene are typical Olmec expressions of the grotesque theme. The knife Coe speaks of is probably a staff or baton, a common emblem in Olmec art. His "severed head" is based solely on Stirling's misapprehension of a large pebble, eroding out of the marl hearting of the stela, as the "eye" of a trophy head (Plate 3). The absence of any original carved surface on this monument eliminates the possibility that the pebble was retained by the sculptor to serve as an eye.
