OLMEC MONUMENTAL STONE WORK
LA VENTA & SAN LORENZO SITES
TABASCO & VERACRUZ, MEXICO
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COPYRIGHT
JANUARY
31, 2013 PETER A. BOSTROM
The Olmec culture produced very large
stone monuments in the form of stelae, thrones, and colossal
heads. The reason so many have survived so well is because they were
made from very hard basalt and andesite stone. They were made with
simple stone tools in very much the same way a common axe was made
by pecking and grinding. The surfaces were shaped with stone hammers
and smoothed by grinding.
This picture shows three different types of large Olmec monolithic
stone sculptures. The stela on the left measures approximately 11
feet 5 inches (3.49 m) high and is made of basalt. The main figure
wears an elaborate headdress and is described as an Olmec ruler who
is dressed as a ballplayer. He is surrounded by "smaller beings."
The throne to the right measures 5 feet 3 inches (1.6 m) high and
it's made of basalt. These large stone monuments are often referred
to as alters but they are now identified as thrones. This throne was
discovered on the La Venta site. The figure in front is an image of
a ruler who seems to be emerging from a cave. He holds a long rope
that extends along the front and around the sides and on one side
the rope ends at the wrist of a possible captive. The large colossal
head was found on the San Lorenzo site in Veracruz. The figure is well proportioned
and is wearing a classic "football" style helmet. There does seem to
be some damage, particularly around the lips, and the surface is
considerably pockmarked. An estimated height is 8.8 feet (2.68 m)
high.
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