• Where is the “heartland” of the Olmec culture?
Current region of Veracruz and Tabasco
• Would you be able to recognize Olmec altars and colossal heads? What are their
general characteristics? -Olmec Dragon -Detailed portraiture
-flamed eyebrows -helmet like head dress
-feathered head -ball player appearance
-fanged teeth
• What is a STELA? -cleft head
Often has text, ornamentation, or both. These may be inscribed, carved in relief, or painted.
Stelae were sculptures carved in relief and created for many reasons.
• What is a CELT OR AXE?
A celt was a hand axe, is a prehistoric tool made of stone or metal that was
used for chopping wood, shaping stone, and cutting or shaping materials.
• What are the characteristics of the Olmec WERE-JAGUAR?
A supernatural being depicted in Olmec art with human and jaguar features. It is associated with
shamanism, transformation, and may represent a specific deity or concept of duality.
• What was found at El Manatí? Where were the objects found at El Manatí?
The site is known for its unique offering of objects found in a wetland deposit. The objects found at El Manatí include a
wide variety of materials, such as ceramics, stone tools, shells, and animal bones. However, the most significant
discovery at the site was a deposit of 14 rubber balls that were found submerged in the wetland.
• Be familiar with the sculptures at the site of San Lorenzo and El Azuzul (the ones
covered in the video lectures) Colossal heads vs twins in presence of were jaguar
• Kent Reilly’s article on the Olmec shaman: On the Princeton sculpture, what
characteristics suggest the importance of transformation? Why do we assume this is an object associated to the elites? What evidence does
Reilly refer to throughout his article?
Reilly argues that the Princeton sculpture is likely associated with the Olmec elites due to its use of jade, a rare and valuable material that
was typically reserved for high-status objects. He also notes that the Princeton sculpture shares many similarities with other Olmec
artifacts associated with elites, such as the use of the were-jaguar motif and the presence of elaborate costumes and regalia.
• What is a QUINCUNX arrangement? (not in book)
Composition in which one main subject is displayed with four smaller attributes around it’s four corners
• Be familiar with the overall plan of La Venta. The tallest mound on the north end is in
poor condition, but what are some ideas about its original shape?
• The textbook refers to "hidden" architecture at La Venta. What does this refer to
and how was it hidden? What are the massive offerings at La Venta?
Refers to the buried site itself or the hidden canal system which was covered by overgrowth with time. The offerings were
large stone sculptures and monuments, including the famous colossal heads, altars, stelae, and thrones.
• What do the Oxtotitlan painting on Figure 39 in Miller’s Art of Mesoamerica have in
common with La Venta altars?
• Chalcatzingo Petroglyph I: What is a petroglyph? What does this petroglyph depict?
A petroglyph is a rock carving or engraving made by removing the surface of a rock to create a design. It depicts a supernatural
anthropomorphic being with the cleft head often found in Olmec iconography. It is seated within the quatrefoil mouth of what is likely a
supernatural creature. It also appear like a cave with rainfall outside.
• Would you be able to identify an Olmec sculpture? (based on style and iconography)
-Olmec sculptures often have prominent lips, flattened noses, and heavy-lidded eyes.
-Many Olmec sculptures are large and imposing, such as the colossal heads and altars found at sites
like La Venta and San Lorenzo.
-Olmec sculptures are typically carved from basalt, a hard volcanic stone that was abundant in the
Olmec region. This gives the sculptures a distinctive dark color and a smooth, polished surface.
Figure: 31 (different angle)
Description: Las Limas Monument
(Youth holding a rain god)
Site: found in Las Limas (state of
Veracruz, Mexico)
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
Figure: 19
Description: Colossal Head
Site: San Lorenzo (state of Veracruz,
Mexico)
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Early Formative
Figure: 14
Description: wooden sculptures from El
Manati
Site: El Manati (state of Veracruz,
Mexico)
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Early Formative
Material: wood
How were sculptures like these found at
El Manatí? They were buried in a wetland deposit
2
Description: Monument 6 (sarcophagus)
Site: La Venta (state of Tabasco, Mexico)
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
What does this sarcophagus depict?
The Olmec dragon
Desciption: incised jade celt from Rio
Pesquero
Region: Rio Pesquero
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
Why is the organization of these motifs
significant? It is in a quincunx arrangement
Figure: 24
Description: Reconstruction of the
major mound cluster at La Venta
Site: La Venta
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
Figure: 27
Description: Altar 4
Site: La Venta
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
3
Figure: 30
Description: Offering 4
Site: La Venta
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
How and where were these sculptures
found? These were found in a buried arrangement at La Venta
Description: mosaic mask (or mosaic
pavement) made with serpentine blocks
Site: La Venta
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
This is an example of “hidden”
architecture. Why? It was buried under multiple layers of Earth so it
was most likely meant to be hidden after its
creation at some point and had to be excavated
Figure: 37
Description: cave painting
Site: Oxtotitlan
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Early or Middle Formative
How is this pictograph relate to the
sculptures in the Olmec heartland (at
San Lorenzo and La Venta)?
4
Figure: 38
Description: Petroglyph I
Site: Chalcatzingo
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Middle Formative
What does this petroglyph depict?
Where is the figure seated?
It depicts a supernatural anthropomorphic being with the cleft head often
found in Olmec iconography. Like "El Rey", it is seated within the
quatrefoil mouth of what is likely a supernatural creature. It also appears
like a cave with rain fall outside
Required images in Kent Reilly’s article (“Shaman in Transformation Pose”):
REILLY ARTICLE FIGURE 1:
Description: Shaman in Transformation
Pose
Culture/Style: Olmec
Approximate date: ca. 800 BC
NOT IN OUR TEXTBOOKS:
Site: San Lorenzo (state of Veracruz,
Mexico)
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Early Formative
What does this sculpture depict?
A werejaguar
5
Site: El Azuzul
Culture/Style: Olmec
Period: Early Formative
How are these sculptures possibly
related to the Popol Vuh? What other
sculptures were associated with these
two sculptures? These sculptures seem to depict the two twins
that story of the Popul Vuh followed, they are
probably associated with the sculptures of the
were jaguar also found at the site?
