Definition: Archaeological site in coastal Chiapas, Mexico, first occupied beginning about 1500 BC, but primarily known for its Late Formative (400 BC - AD 1) occupation. The striking stone carved monuments found at Izapa led to the naming of the Izapan cultural tradition of coastal Guatemala and Mexico, consisting of a highly narrative stylized stone with crocodiles, fish, marsh birds, as jaguars as subjects. The Izapan style is chronologically between Olmec and later classic Maya stone carving styles.

Related Resources:

Archaeology of Mexico
Links and resources from your About guide.

Latin American archaeology
Online resources to the cultures and archaeology of Mexico and Central America, including Aztec, Maya, Toltec, and other ancient societies.

Elsewhere on the Web:

Izapa: a Photo Gallery
From James Q. Jacobs, a sampling of what the Izapan style is all about.

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