Material: basalt stone

Size: 9.5 feet tall, 7 feet wide

 

First, take a minute or two to look closely at the images above. Write down your reaction to this object--what details do you notice? Why did you pick this object for your response paper? Make notes on things that you notice about it. Also, write down any questions you have about it--what kinds of things would you want to know about this object? Remember the questions we ask in class. You don't need to have answers for these questions yet, but keep them in your notes.

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Note that the image above shows the same Olmec stone head from the front (left) and the side (right). The second image is a map of San Lorenzo showing the locations of various stone monuments, including the colossal heads.

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Once you have some questions written down, try to answer them by reading the information I've provided below about this object and its context.​

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What do we know about this object?​

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Carved Olmec heads like this one are found at four Olmec religious sites. So far, archaeologists have found 17 of these heads. They are all made of basalt stone, which came from mountains located up to 60 kilometers away from the site. Because the Olmec people had no wheel and no beasts of burden, these stones would have been moved by sheer manpower--and to be honest, we're still not quite sure how they did it. Each stone head is unique, with different adornments on the headdress, a variety of ear ornaments, specific facial features, and a range of expressions from stern or placid to gently smiling. The backs of the sculptures are often quite flat, which helps to indicate that they are meant to be seen primarily from the front.

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The head you are looking at above comes from the site of San Lorenzo. This is one of the oldest Olmec settlements, located on an island in the middle of a river. At its height between 1150 and 900 BCE, it is estimated to have housed 5,500 inhabitants. An aqueduct brought water to the city. Archaeologists have also found the houses of the upper-class and the rulers, located on a high ridge overlooking the rest of the city. Near the houses of the upper-class were spaces for religion such as altars, and there was probably a strong link between the ruling class and religion. The ten stone heads found at San Lorenzo were all found on this high ridge, and many of them were arranged (along with stone altars) in a sort of line running north-south along the edge of the plateau where the upper-class lived. You can see a plan of the site with the colossal heads marked (black squares) in the images above.

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Then, around 900 BCE, the population of San Lorenzo declined sharply. The stone heads were deliberately buried at this time, and some of them were even mutilated. 

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For more information on Olmec culture, see a good article here.

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Some things to consider in your response paper:​

• What was your response to this object? What drew your eye? What do you like about it, or dislike? You are encouraged to use first person (I/me) in your response paper. I want to know what you think.

• Consider the artistic details of this object carefully. What kinds of decisions did the artist make when they were creating this piece, and why? Use your art terminology.

• Based on the evidence above about where these heads were located and how they were made, who (in general) do you think is depicted in this sculpture? What pieces of evidence make you think this? As the viewer, what are you supposed to think of this person who is depicted here--what kind of message is being sent by this artwork?

• The construction of these sculptures was a huge undertaking--who ordered this, and why? What does this sculpture tell you about the power structure at San Lorenzo? What do these sculptures tell you about Olmec culture at the site of San Lorenzo? And finally--why do you think people buried or mutilated these sculptures?