Paso de la Amada is the name of the archaeological ruins of a large dispersed Mesoamerican community on the Pacific Coast of the state of Chiapas, Mexico. It is located in the Soconusco region, one of the most important areas for cacao production in pre-Hispanic America. Paso de la Amada flourished during the second half of the Early Formative period, between 1850 and 1200 cal BC. The community is dispersed across sandy ridges surrounding low-lying seasonally flooded lands (called bajos) within an area of ~50 hectares (~123 acres). Over 50 low mounds representing building ruins are visible: during its heyday Paso de la Amada is believed to have housed a population estimated at between 1,500 and 2,000 individuals.
The First Mesoamerican Ballcourt
Among the architectural structures at Paso de la Amada is Mound 7, the earliest yet discovered Mesoamerican ballcourt. This earthen structure was discovered by archaeologists Warren Hill and Michael Blake in 1995, and it was built between 1400-1250 BC (3580-3425 cal BP). When excavated, the 110 x 50 meter (328 x 64 feet) mound structure was found to contain two parallel earthen platforms edged by benches which are 2.5 m (8.2 ft) wide and 35 cm (1.2 ft) high, flanking an alley measuring 80 m (262 ft) long.
Ballcourts, with their characteristic I-shape, were important places for Mesoamerican people and were usually located among public buildings in major centers. The ballgame played an important role in the social and political life of Mesoamerican communities, and--as portrayed in images, carvings and documents--it was often the medium to settle disputes.
At Paso de la Amada, the ballcourt was located among high-status residences, and not in connection with a civic ceremonial space. This suggests that the ball game here held a strong connection with elite segments of society.
Paso de la Amada Architecture
The identification of long platforms, supporting large perishable structures dispersed across the site has been used by some archaeologists as evidence for the emergence of high-status groups at Paso de la Amada. However, other archaeologists argue that if these buildings were the residences of elite members, a higher distribution of imported and exotic items would have been found here in comparison to other contexts. However, artifacts such as jade and obsidian objects, and elaborate serving vessels--considered good indicators of social inequality--were not more frequent in these platforms than in other structures.
This leads some scholars to consider these platforms as public spaces used by members of different households engaged in community activities such as ceremonies and decision-making assemblies. Some of these activities would have included the ritual and social practice of feasting and drinking cacao, as suggested by cacao residues on some ceramic vessels from Paso de la Amada.
Paso de la Amada Mound 6
The most thoroughly excavated of Paso de la Amada's platforms is Mound 6. Here, six superimposed pole-and-thatch structures seem to have been constructed in different phases. Around 1200 BC, Mound 6 emerged as the residential center of the leading authority at Paso de la Amada, and its long occupation, which lasted over 200 years, has led some archaeologists to propose an hereditary form of leadership for this period.
Abandonment
By around 1000 BC, Paso de la Amada, and in general the Pacific coast of Chiapas, underwent a radical socio-political reorganization, with the abandonment of many large villages. These changes have been attributed to a strong influence of the Olmecs on the cultures of the Gulf Coast. Significant connections with the Olmecs are supported by imported artifacts as well as the incorporation of Olmec motifs in artworks.
Paso de la Amada seems to have been abandoned at the end of the Early Formative (~900 BC) when the regional power shifted toward other, newly founded villages with stronger connections to the Olmec homeland.
Archaeology
Paso de la Amada was discovered and tested by Jorge Fausto Ceja Tenoria in the 1970s. New testing of the site began in 1985 and 1990, under the direction of John E. Clark. Richard G. Lesure, joined by Michael Blake and Warren Hill, began a new set of excavations in 1992. It was during 1995's excavations that the ball court was identified.
Sources
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com guide to the ancient Mesoamerica and the Dictionary of Archaeology.
Clark JE. 1997. The arts of government in early Mesoamerica. Annual Review of Anthropology 26:332-234.
Hill WD, Blake M, and Clark JE. 1998. Ball court design dates back 3,400 years. Nature 392(6679):878-879.
Lesure RG. 1997. Early Formative Platforms at Paso de la Amada, Chiapas, Mexico. Latin American Antiquity 8(3):217-235.
Lesure RG. 1999. Figurines as Representations and Products at Paso de la Amada, Mexico. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 9(02):209-220.
Lesure RG, and Blake M. 2002. Interpretive Challenges in the Study of Early Complexity: Economy, Ritual, and Architecture at Paso de la Amada, Mexico. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 21(1):1-24.