Abstract

In works dealing with archaeological questions about the New World often appears the problem of possible contacts between European and Asian cultures and cultures existing in both Americas. The latest works of A. Wierciński dealing with an anthropological element of the Olmec population and same author's publications proving the use of so called megalithic yard by builders of pyramids in Teotihuacan seem to indicate that such contacts really existed and that not an inconsiderable role was played in the megalithic cultures of the Old World. Interesting observations on this subject might be found in the analysis of from and functions realized by a ceremonial centre in La Venta. It is situated in the Mexican state of Tobasco on a small stoneboggy island in the (flood waters) of the river Coatzacoalcos. The whole complex consists of a number of earth-stone mounds in the area of 300m of length and 80 m of width. La Venta existed between 12th and 6th c. B.C. So far as the functions realized by this centre are concerned, we may state that the main role played here was the astronomical aspect. Olmecs, Иске other agricultural people, needed a calendar based on astronomical observations to carry on their economy, to state the seasons and crop and sowing times. The simplest and at the same time the most efficient way of calculating the given period of time is using the constellation of the Great Bear as a sort of a clock. The fact that this constellation was observed from La Venta is proved by its direction along the south-north line with a slight declination of axis (8°) westwards. This declination corresponds to the azimuth of the setting on this territory of the Central Point of the Great Bear about one millenium B.C., that is during the period of so called 1 st phase of La Venta. M oreover, it should be remembered that this centre was deserted about 600-500 B.C. Just then, in consequence of the phenomenon of starsdeclinaticm, the main axis of the complex no longer corresponded to the azimuth of the constellation. As a result, La Venta lost its raison d'être and was left by its inhabitants. Apart from its purely utilitarian role, the discussed centre was also the place of religious rituals. They were mainly related to the cult of a jaguar-like god which is proved by archaeological findings connected to this cult (jadeite axes shaped as jaguars, mosaics also showing this beast).