Figure 5a: The ceremonial center of La Emerenciana is located in the salitral or salt flats on a fossil beach ridge, one of three such topographic features identified in regional survey. Two earthen mounds were identified. The NW mound was the focus of the excavations. The SE earthen mound is located just south of the site datum under a modern habitation. Parts of the site were previously modified by shrimp pond construction.