Travesía

How early, we don't know because of the destruction of the site in the 20th century and subsequent looting to find pieces for the thriving illegal antiquities market.

Research by Rus Sheptak in 1981 using aerial photography showed that the site apparently consisted of 3 large raised platforms over 100 meters on a side.

Subsequently, the site has been heavily looted to collect the polychrome pots and marble vessels prized on the national and international antiquities markets.

Archaeologists have tried to place test excavations at Travesia to get information on how far back it was occupied, but frequently end up re-excavating a looter's pit rather than undisturbed soil.

Cultural Property Advisory Committee (CPAC), the President of the Society for American Archaeology (SAA) noted that "...the major center of Travesia has all but disappeared from the map under the looter's shovel.