According to David Palmer, of particular consequence to the question of locating Ramah/Cumorah is this question: "Were the last battles of the Nephites and Jaredites located within their normal sphere of influence, or were they carried out far removed from their cultural centers?" . . . A very key factor in understanding these Jaredite battles is the presence of an established populace in the areas where these battles occurred. In describing Coriantumr's flight from Shiz, who had battled with him at the plains of Agosh, Moroni (or Ether) said:
And it came to pass that Shiz pursued after Coriantumr, and he did overthrow many cities, and he did slay both women and children, and he did burn the cities . . . And it came to pass that the people began to flock together in armies, throughout all the face of the land. (Ether 14:17-19, italics added)
From this data we can establish as a requirement that Ramah/Cumorah must be near ruined cities dating from approximately 600-[300] B.C. [David A. Palmer, In Search of Cumorah, pp. 60-61]
The Book of Mormon student might note that the plains of Agosh would have been close to "many cities."
According to Warren and Palmer, in addition to the many ruins of ancient date located in southern Veracruz and already reported on maps, many more were identified during a personal trip to the area. These include Cerro Cintepec, Hatzuntlan, Hueapan, Laguna Ostion, Los Mangos, Michapan, Minzapan, Oluta, Ojapa, Sayula, Soconusco, Stoteapan, and Textictepec. Very large ruins are also found on the Gulf Coast side of the Cerro Vigia where there are about seventy unexcavated mounds called Tatocapan. [Bruce W. Warren and David A. Palmer, The Jaredite Saga, p. 7-6, unpublished]
Ether 14:17 Many cities ([Illustration]): Fig. 1. Map of the Olmec heartland] [Charles R. Wicke, Olmec, p. XIV]