Giant heads: what the Olmecs left behind

The ancient Olmec culture, which is mentioned in the historical Chronicles of the Aztecs, left behind amazing artifacts – giant heads made of basalt boulders. The most recent statues were created at least in the IX century BC. each head is a sculpture depicting a Mature man with a characteristic flat nose. People with this type of appearance are still found today, usually among the residents of the Mexican States of Tabasco and Veracruz.

Historians believe that the heads represent ancient rulers. In some places they are arranged in a single line, in others they are grouped according to an unknown principle. Until now, the methods of transporting stones to the places where they are now are unknown. Today, 17 such heads are known to be located on the Gulf coast. The first heads were discovered in the 19th century near Tres Zapotes. Since then, scientists have been trying to determine the exact age of the artifacts. The oldest images on the boulders may be 3,500 years old. The heads differ in size and weight: the smallest weighs about 6 tons, and the largest – 40-50 tons, which, apparently, was an incomplete creation.

The Olmecs created one of the first major civilizations in Mexico, which flourished for many centuries and fell into decline by the fourth century BC. this civilization was first known in the late nineteenth century. thanks to the discovery of artifacts that hit the market.