The present study seeks to analyze and interpret the ceramic mate-
rial obtained during the first season's work of the National Geographic
Society-Smithsonian Institution joint archeological expedition to
Tres Zapotes, State of Veracruz, Mexico. The work of this season was
primarily exploratory in nature. Refined stratigraphic investigation
was not attempted. It was felt more desirable, as a beginning, to per-
form as many sampling operations as possible in order to learn fully
the character of the site, leaving for a second season the task of deter-
mining whether more precise field methods might yield significant re-
sults. The interpretations offered are consequently based more upon
typological than upon stratigraphic considerations. Nevertheless, cer-
tain broad stratigraphic implications emerged in the course of the
excavations which have not been lost sight of in the presentation of
results. These implications appear to justify arranging the pottery
under three general heads indicative of the level at which each of the
groupings occurred; namely, Middle Tres Zapotes A, Middle Tres
Zapotes B, and Upper Tres Zapotes. This particular terminology has
been chosen in the light of the second season's work, which, while
confirming the basic stratigraphic categories postulated here, revealed,
further, the existence of a deeper and presumably earlier level than any
herein considered, which it is proposed to call Lower Tres Zapotes.
By adopting designations which can be used in subsequent reports,
much unnecessary confusion will be avoided.

In the belief that copious illustration is of greater importance in a
report on ceramics than literary elaboration, the text material has been
kept at a minimum consistent with the inclusion of the pertinent facts.
Description of the pottery is presented in outline form to facilitate
quick reference. The terms used in referring to vessel forms have been
chosen in accordance with the definitions proposed by Vaillant ( 1927)
in his doctoral dissertation, subject to the minor modifications intro-
duced by the Ricketsons in their report on Uaxactun, Guatemala,
Group E, 1926-1931. In addition, the term olla bowl, already familiar
to students of Southwestern archeology, has been employed to designate
a vessel which conforms to the definition of an olla, except that the
height, instead of being approximately equal to the diameter, is defi-
nitely less than the diameter. Wares are classified on the basis of
surface color or slip. In accordance with the recommendation of
Benjamin March ( 1934), colors have been referred to the standard
samples to be found in A Dictionary of Color (Maerz and Paul,

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