Olmec Stone Heads, Research Paper Example

The Olmec people of Mesoamerica are known for producing sculptures of animals, people, and other significant works of art. Among the most well-known works of the Olmec people are the colossal stone heads discovered in the Gulf Coast region of Mexico. These enormous stone heads, which stand twice as tall as adult humans, were discovered in the early 20^th century, but were originally carved sometime around 900 BC. These stone heads weight anywhere from 6 tons to 50 tons, and are carved from enormous blocks of basalt or other stones. Like other artifacts from the Mesoamerican culture, it is not certain why they were carved, but it is believed that they may represent important leaders or other figures from the time.

The stones used for carving the Olmec heads were not found in the region where the heads were found, which means that these stones had to be carried or moved across long distances. Like many structures and large works of art from the ancient world, enormous amounts of physical labor were needed to move the materials and to create the carvings. This demonstrates the importance of the figures, making it likely that they were created in honor of important people. The Olmec stone heads show facial features such as wide faces, broad noses, and fleshy lips that are still seen in people that live in the region.

The Olmec people are known for creating a variety of works of art that represent the natural world. Along with the stone heads, other works that have survived from the period include carvings of fish, jaguars, birds, and other creatures. The Olmecs are believed to be the first significant civilization that developed in Mesoamerica, and are known for having created large architectural works and building cities thousands of years ago. The Olmec people developed written language and other aspects of sophisticated civilization. Along with the stone head, many artifacts from these early Mesoamericans have survived. Archaeologists are not sure exactly what the artifacts were used for, but believe that many of them must have had some sort of religious or cultural significance.