Archaeology ~ La Venta ~ The City of Mulek

Last week, I wrote about the Nephites under the direction of their King, Mosiah, left the land of Nephi to avoid being overtaken by the Lamanites, who by now severely outnumbered them.  They traveled down out of their mountain valley, through a narrow, but treacherous wilderness, and found a community of people who welcomed them.  These were the people of Zarahemla, who were descendants of Mulek, last prince of Judah. 

Before we talk about Zarahemla and his city (where Mosiah's group settled), I'd like to talk about Mulek, and what archaeologists say about the city where his group arrived.  According to the Book of Mormon, it would be a settlement on the east coast of Central America, north and east of the central drainage basin of the River Sidon (more about that later.)

What Archaeology Says:

There is a pre-Colombian archaeological site in just that area - the remains of the city of La Venta.  The aboriginal occupants of La Venta arrived around 1200 BC (more on those people later.)  Archaeologists call them the Olmec. Newcomers arrived about 550-600 BC.  From archaeological findings, these newcomers appeared to be bearded.  According to the website, Ancient Wisdom.UK: It is interesting to note that there have been suggestions that La Venta was inhabited by people with old-world connections such as representations of bearded people (which is a genetic trait absent from native Americans.) [See picture above of a detail from Stela 3 at La Venta.]  [1]

Sorensen added: Stela 3 from La Venta, which qualifies as the city of Mulek, portrays a meeting between a local leader and an immigrant chief with facial characteristics at home in the Holy Land. [2]

La Venta was inhabited by people of the Olmec Culture from 1200 BC until 400 BC after which the site appears to have been abandoned. It is believed to have been an important civic and ceremonial centre. [sic] Today, the entire southern end of the site is covered by a petroleum refinery and has been largely demolished, making further excavations difficult or impossible. [3]

The Book of Mormon tells us that the area that became the City of Mulek was first occupied by the Jaredites (Olmecs) around 1200 BC.  Their culture self-destructed around 600 BC, killing all but one man.  When the people of Mulek arrived around 590, they found this man and occupied the land.  After the bulk of the Mulekites traveled south to Zarahemla about 215 BC, Nephites spread northward and occupied the city.  Eventually, it became the homeland of a group of peaceful converted Lamanites, who abandoned it in 400 AD, traveling northward to avoid the terrible warfare that ultimately destroyed the Nephites as a people.

Monument 19:  This beautifully carved stone shows what appears to be a person sitting on a feathered serpent. The ceremonial nature of the site makes it likely that this representation held an importance to the Olmecs, presumably symbolizing an event or a person . . . it is interesting to note also the object being held out by the hand... [4]

This symbol that looks like a purse or some sort of cutting tool is seen in Middle Eastern art from Egypt, Babylon, and Phoenicia. [5]  This monument is the first known use of the symbol of the Feathered Serpent.  Also note that the man riding the serpent is bearded.

What were once assumed to be seven basalt "altars" were found at La Venta. These altars, roughly 2 meters high and twice as wide, feature an elaborately dressed and sculpted figure on the centre [sic] front. It is now believed that these altars are the record of a dynasty, with each figure representing a ruler. [6]  From the facial features, these appear to represent the original people of the area, the Olmecs/ Jaradites.  You can see the difference in appearance between the original settlers and the bearded newcomers.


[1] www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicolaventa.htm
[2] John Sorensen, An American Setting for the Book of Mormon, p. 149
[3] www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicolaventa.htm
[4] Ibid
[5] Ibid
[6] Ibid

Text quotes taken from the website, Ancient Wisdom, United Kingdom and John Sorensen's book, An American Setting for the Book of Mormon

 

Other text copyright July 2013, Gebara Education

Pictures:

Map from www.inthecavityofarock.blogspot.com

Stela 3, La Venta from www.inthecavityofarock.blogspot.com

Monument 19, La Venta from www.wikipedia.com/featheredserpent

Basalt "altar", La Venta from www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicolaventa.htm