# Englehardt 2020: Digital Imaging and Archaeometric Analysis of the Cascajal Block: Establishing Context and Authenticity for the Earliest Known Olmec Text

> Joshua D. Englehardt, Mirta A. Insaurralde Caballero, Emiliano R. Melgar Tísoc et al., 2020. 8 records on Mysteries Department cite it. The archaeometric…

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBKCW2VEJ/digital-imaging-and-archaeometric-analysis-of-the-cascajal  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Sources](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources)[Cascajal block and Isthmian writing](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block)Englehardt 2020

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# Digital Imaging and Archaeometric Analysis of the Cascajal Block: Establishing Context and Authenticity for the Earliest Known Olmec Text

Joshua D. Englehardt, Mirta A. Insaurralde Caballero, Emiliano R. Melgar Tísoc et al., 2020. _Ancient Mesoamerica 31(2), pp. 189 to 209_.

Polynomial texture mapping, X-ray fluorescence, patina study and scanning electron microscopy of tool marks. Reports serpentinite chemistry matching the Tehuitzingo, Puebla, source used by the Olmec, incisions made with obsidian and abraded with sandstone, and patina consistent with age; revises some sign identifications. Published online November 2019.

**Cascajal block and Isthmian writing** ArticleCopy of **[The Cascajal block](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/artifacts/ART0CYBC9C07Q02/the-cascajal-block)** doi: **[10.1017/S0956536119000257](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536119000257)** Checked against the original0

## What it's used for here

The archaeometric case for authenticity.

## Cited by on this site 8 records

[The block and its incisions are ancient Olmec work.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/answers/ANS0CYBC12C6WNE/the-block-and-its-incisions-are-ancient-olmec-work)

Answer

ANS

[The Cascajal block: scan](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/copies/CPY0CYBCAB805KZ/the-cascajal-block-scan)

CPY

[Polynomial texture maps, XRF and SEM data for the Cascajal block](https://mysteriesdept.com/datasets/DAT0CYBC8MJ2TB4/polynomial-texture-maps-xrf-and-sem-data-for-the-cascajal)

Dataset

DAT

[SEM shows incision with obsidian and abrasion with sandstone.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/evidence/EVD0CYBC1J01ZH1/sem-shows-incision-with-obsidian-and-abrasion-with-sandstone)

Evidence

EVD

[XRF matches the serpentinite to Tehuitzingo, Puebla, an Olmec source.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/evidence/EVD0CYBC1A60ACH/xrf-matches-the-serpentinite-to-tehuitzingo-puebla-an-olmec)

Evidence

EVD

[Imaging and archaeometric study of the block published](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/events/EVT0CYBBX5C07J5/imaging-and-archaeometric-study-of-the-block-published)

EVT

[Joshua D. Englehardt](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block/people/FIG0CYBBT7M6MQ6/joshua-d-englehardt)

FIG

[The Cascajal block and Isthmian writing](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/cascajal-block)

The mystery article

MYS

## Cite it

```
Englehardt, J. D., Insaurralde Caballero, M. A., Melgar Tísoc, E. R., Velázquez Maldonado, L. R., Guzmán Torres, V., Bernard, H. N., & Carrasco, M. D. (2020). Digital Imaging and Archaeometric Analysis of the Cascajal Block: Establishing Context and Authenticity for the Earliest Known Olmec Text. Ancient Mesoamerica 31(2), pp. 189 to 209. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536119000257
```

[Read it free at doi.org](https://doi.org/10.1017/S0956536119000257)

Key

**SRC** 0CYBBKCW2VEJ

Kind

Journal article

Rights

The publisher's

Kept

27 Oct 2026, for editors

Checked

Against the published article

Added by

[apollo](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)

The record

Bibliographic records are CC0. Take this one as CSL-JSON, BibTeX or RIS.

[CSL-JSON](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CYBBKCW2VEJ/digital-imaging-and-archaeometric-analysis-of-the-cascajal/csl.json)