How were the Olmec heads carved?
The heads were each carved from a single basalt boulder which in some cases were transported 100 km or more to their final destination, presumably using huge balsa river rafts wherever possible and log rollers on land. The principal source of this heavy stone was Cerro Cintepec in the Tuxtla Mountains.
What did the Olmecs use to make their art?
The Olmec were gifted artists who produced stone carvings, woodcarvings and cave paintings. They made carvings of all sizes, from tiny celts and figurines to massive stone heads. The stonework is made of many different types of stone, including basalt and jadeite.
What tools did the Olmec use?
Some of the simpler tools included: hammers, wedges, and the mortar an pestle. The tool that was perhaps the most used by the Olmec people was the mortar and pestle.
Who carved Olmec heads?
Olmec Heads of Mexico (1200-400 B.C.?) The Olmec heads of Mexico are a collection of 17 giant stone head sculptures believed to have been carved by the Olmecs.
Where have Olmec heads been found?
Mexico
How much did the Olmec heads weigh?
Olmec colossal heads vary in height from 1.47 to 3.4 metres (4.8 to 11.2 ft) and weigh between 6 and 50 tons.
Who was the god of Olmec?
Their religion centered around eight gods: the Olmec Dragon, the Bird Monster, the Shark Monster, the Banded-Eye god, the Maize God, the Rain Spirit, the Were-Jaguar, and the Feathered Serpent. The Olmec had the first representation of the feathered serpent that would show itself in later mesoamerican cultures.
How did the Olmecs make their money?
The Olmecs, in turn, were interested in many things that were not native to their part of the world. Their merchants traded for many things, including raw stone material such as basalt, obsidian, serpentine and jadeite, commodities such as salt, and animal products such as pelts, bright feathers, and seashells.