OLMEC MONUMENTAL STONE WORK
LA VENTA & SAN LORENZO SITES

TABASCO & VERACRUZ, MEXICO
RETURN TO PAGE 1
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.

3 monumental stone works, stela, throne and head.

 RECENT LISTINGS  HOME  ORDERING