Ground-penetrating radar and traditional excavation have revealed a massive Olmec ceremonial plaza hidden beneath a modern palm plantation in Tabasco, Mexico. The site includes a dedicated facility for the production of rubber balls used in the Mesoamerican ballgame, complete with cooking pits and ceramic molds containing organic latex residue.
The presence of this 'factory' suggests that the ballgame was not just a ritual event but a highly organized cultural industry as early as 1,000 BCE. The plaza also features a series of carved stelae depicting rulers wearing elaborate avian headdresses, marking it as a major administrative hub in the Olmec heartland.