Most of El Tajin is still unexcavated, and the site has been heavily looted over the centuries, as Garcia Payon, the archaelogist sent by the Mexican government in the 1930s to protect the site, discovered. He was charged with the task of stopping "this lively trade in Tajin sculptures, which were even sold in the Papantla market" (Sculptures, pg 13). However, the remains still testify to an extensive urban center whose influence must have extended for many hundreds of miles to the north, south and west.

Human Sacrifice and the Ball Game
      Lindsay Jones notes that the "whole ball game complex...arose in the area of El Tajin" (Twin City Tales, pg. 385). In the Hall of the Building Columns are several elaborate carvings depicting the sacrifice of ball players, as well as the sacrifice of more simply dressed people. "Ball players are sacrificed with lavish ceremonies...brought to the sacrifice individually, wearing their ball game equipment..." (Sculptures, pg 49). The Hall itself is a forerunner of similiar structures at Tula and Chichen Itza. And just as at Chichen, the Ball Game is central to the practice of human sacrifice. The entire Death Cult of the ball game, so prominent at Tula and Chichen, has its origins here at El Tajin.

No other site in Mesoamerica has so many depictions of ball players and their equipment. Helmets, "yokes" belts worn around the waist and "hachas" and "palmas" worn on these belts are shown in many of the carvings. Apparently, the inhabitants of El Tajin were great fans of the game. They would also appear to be overtly militaristic, not a trait that is normally associated with Classic era cultures.

It is still unknown how the game was played which hinders any understanding of how the equipment was used. Some researchers have suggested that the heavy stone yokes were actually worn during the game, but this seems unlikely given that a ballplayer could hardly demonstrate any agility with fifty pound piece of stone around his waist! The stone hachas, palmas and yokes were more likely trophies, perhaps awarded to the winners. The losers, on the other hand, may have received a death sentence, a strong incentive to remain undefeated. The ball game may have also served as a training excercise for young warriors.

The Toltec Connection
      El Tajin is closest to Tula of all the major sites in the Northern half of Mesoamerica. This site may have been the capital of the Nonalcos mentioned in the legends surrounding the downfall of Tula. Other legends claim that El Tajin was overrun much later in the 1200s by Chichimecs, perhaps those under Xolotl. In either case, it would be surprising if the rulers of Tula were unaware of a city the size of El Tajin so nearby. And, given the Toltecs bent towards military conquest, a clash would be inevitable.

While the artistic style employed at El Tajin is more reminiscent of their Maya neighbors, the obsessive depiction of skulls clearly finds an echo at Tula and Chichen. Likewise the heavy emphasis on human sacrifice, particularly as public spectacle. The Mound of the Building Columns certainly seems to part of the Toltec tradition of building a large multi-columned structure slightly removed from the main center. Perhaps as a military barracks? The function of this most charecteristic of Toltec buildings is still unknown, but the prescence of a Hall of Columns at Tula, Chichen and El Tajin would seem to argue for a strong connection.

Conclusions
      Given that many parts of El Tajin clearly foredate Tula and the Toltec part of Chichen, it would seem that the influence would be El Tajin->Tula. However, it is not impossible that the Tula Toltecs may have conquered El Tajin, and then been in turn culturally influence by the inhabitants, much as the Greeks influenced the conquering Romans. The Death Cult and the Ball Game, which originate at El Tajin would certainly go on to be major facets of later Toltec culture.

Sources
      The Sculptures of El Tajin Veracruz, Mexico. Michael Edwin Kampen. University of Florida Press. 1972.

Twin City Tales - A Hermeneutical Reassessement of Tula and Chichen Itza.. Lindsay Jones. University of Colorado Press. 1995.