The heads date from at least 900 BC and are a distinctive feature of the Olmec civilization of ancient Mesoamerica. ... They all display distinctive headgear and one theory is that these were worn as protective helmets, maybe worn for war or to take part in a ceremonial Mesoamerican ballgame .
What do the infamous colossal heads of the Olmec best represent?
Since their discovery, these Olmec heads have spurred new research and interpretations that, more than anything, offer insight into how we look at other cultures. ... The most up-to-date research suggests that instead, these heads represent those of flesh-and-blood Olmec rulers .
What was the significance of the Olmec heads?
The Olmec society lasted from about 1600 BCE to around 350 BCE, when environmental factors made their villages unlivable. The Olmec are probably best known for the statues they carved: 20 ton stone heads, quarried and carved to commemorate their rulers .
How many colossal heads are there?
To date, 17 colossal Olmec heads have been discovered in various locations associated with the ancient Olmec civilisations; ten (thought to be the oldest) were found in San Lorenzo, Veracruz, four in La Venta, Tabasco, two in Tres Zapotes, Veracruz and one in La Cobata.
Why is the phenomenon of the Olmec colossal heads so significant to the accomplishments of the Olmec civilization?
Olmec Art. The most striking legacy of the Olmec civilization must be the colossal stone heads they produced. These were carved in basalt and all display unique facial features so that they may be considered portraits of actual rulers .
Which God was the most important to the Olmecs?
The Maize God
Because maize was such an important staple of life of the Olmec, it’s not surprising that they dedicated a god to its production. The Maize God appears as a human-ish figure with a stalk of corn growing out of his head.
Who used the Olmec heads?
Olmec Heads of Mexico (1200-400 B.C.?)
The Olmec heads of Mexico are a collection of 17 giant stone head sculptures believed to have been carved by the Olmecs .
Are the Olmecs from Africa?
Andrzej Wiercinski claims that some of the Olmecs were of African origin . He supports this claim with cranial evidence from two Mesoamerican sites: Tlatilco and Cerro de las Mesas. Tlatilco is a site in the Valley of Mexico. Although outside the Olmec heartland, Olmec influences appear in the architectural record.
Where are giant stone heads?
The Easter Island heads are known as Moai by the Rapa Nui people who carved the figures in the tropical South Pacific directly west of Chile. The Moai monoliths, carved from stone found on the island, are between 1,100 and 1,500 CE.
How did the Olmecs move the heads?
The creation of these heads was a significant undertaking. The basalt boulders and blocks used to carve the heads were located as much as 50 miles away. Archaeologists suggest a laborious process of slowly moving the stones, using a combination of raw manpower, sledges and, when possible, rafts on rivers .
What is the symbol of colossal heads?
The Olmec colossal heads are stone representations of human heads sculpted from large basalt boulders. They range in height from 1.17 to 3.4 metres (3.8 to 11.2 ft). The heads date from at least 900 BC and are a distinctive feature of the Olmec civilization of ancient Mesoamerica.
Why are the Mayans called the Mayans?
The designation Maya comes from the ancient Yucatan city of Mayapan, the last capital of a Mayan Kingdom in the Post-Classic Period. The Maya people refer to themselves by ethnicity and language bonds such as Quiche in the south or Yucatec in the north (though there are many others).
What was the original name of the Aztecs?
Early Aztec History
The Aztecs were also known as the Tenochca (from which the name for their capital city, Tenochtitlan, was derived) or the Mexica (the origin of the name of the city that would replace Tenochtitlan, as well as the name for the entire country).
How were the Olmec able to support a civilization and cities?
What evidence supports the idea that the Olmec developed an advanced civilization that was capable of organizing large pools of labor for important projects? The Olmec built large monuments and temples , and they transported huge blocks of stone to be carved into massive sculptures.
Who came first Olmec or Maya?
Scientists are typically split between two theories on the subject: Either the Maya developed directly from an older “mother culture” known as the Olmec, or they sprang into existence independently.
What did the Olmecs call themselves?
The Olmecs were a culture of ancient peoples -1300-400 B.C. – of the East Mexico lowlands. They are often regarded as the Mother Culture of later Middle American civilizations. The Olmec people called themselves Xi (pronounced Shi) .
