THE GIANT FACE OF ANCIENT MEXICO
In the jungles of Tabasco, Mexico, you’ll find one of
the most impressive pieces of ancient art: the
Colossal Heads of the Olmecs. These giant stone
faces are thousands of years old, and still full of
mystery!
SUPER ANCIENT
The heads were made by
the Olmecs, one of
Mesoamerica’s earliest
civilizations (1200–400
BCE)!
CARVED FROM BASALT
They were sculpted from
giant volcanic rocks
brought from faraway
mountains—no wheels, no
trucks!
MASSIVE SIZE
Some heads are over 3
meters (10 feet) tall and
weigh up to 40 tons!
WARRIORS INSTEAD OF GODS
They were carved
representing rulers or
warriors with unique
headdresses.
METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION
The method of
transporting these
massive stones is still a
mystery, although it is
theorized that wooden
rollers, canals, and a large
organized human force
were used.
PARTICULAR SIGNS
The headdresses or
helmets worn by the
heads vary in each
sculpture, and these
distinctive signs could
identify the character
represented.
REPRESENTATION OF MATURE MAN
Features such as fleshy
cheeks, flat noses, and
slightly slanted eyes
indicate the
representation of mature
men.
17 HEADS FOUNDED
Seventeen heads have
been found in major
Olmec centers, such as
San Lorenzo and La
Venta, in the present-day
states of Veracruz and
Tabasco.
FROM A COLOSSAL HEAD
Apart from the heads
found in Mexico, there is
a throne in Takalik Abaj
(Guatemala) that could
have been sculpted from
a colossal head.