Olmec Black Stone Sculpture of a Kneeling Man - CK.0321, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 3" (7.6cm) wide x 3" (7.6cm) depth,  More »

Olmec Black Stone Sculpture of a Kneeling Man - CK.0321, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 3" (7.6cm) wide x 3" (7.6cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone.   « Less

Olmec Stone Sculpture of a Seated Man - CK.0499, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 15.5" (39.4cm) high x 9" (22.9cm) wide, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Olmec Stone Sculpture of a Seated Man - CK.0499, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 15.5" (39.4cm) high x 9" (22.9cm) wide, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone.   « Less

Olmecoid Stone Head - CK.0567, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 900 BC to 600 BC, Dimensions: 18" (45.7cm) high x 7" (17.8cm) wide x 15" (38.1cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Olmecoid Stone Head - CK.0567, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 900 BC to 600 BC, Dimensions: 18" (45.7cm) high x 7" (17.8cm) wide x 15" (38.1cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmecoid, Medium: Stone.   « Less

Olmec Stone Figure - CK.0602, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 500 BC, Dimensions: 4.25" (10.8cm) high x 2" (5.1cm) wide, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec,  More »

Olmec Stone Figure - CK.0602, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 500 BC, Dimensions: 4.25" (10.8cm) high x 2" (5.1cm) wide, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone.   « Less

Olmec Terracotta Seated Figure - CK.0605, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 500 BC, Dimensions: 5.75" (14.6cm) high x 4.75" (12.1cm) wide x 3" (7.6cm) depth, Collection:  More »

Olmec Terracotta Seated Figure - CK.0605, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 500 BC, Dimensions: 5.75" (14.6cm) high x 4.75" (12.1cm) wide x 3" (7.6cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Olmecoid Terracotta Sculpture of a Standing Woman Wearing a Skirt - CK.0623,Origin: Mesoamerica,Circa: 900 BC to 300 BC,Dimensions: 7.375" (18.7cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm)  More »

Olmecoid Terracotta Sculpture of a Standing Woman Wearing a Skirt - CK.0623,Origin: Mesoamerica,Circa: 900 BC to 300 BC,Dimensions: 7.375" (18.7cm) high x 2.25" (5.7cm) wide,Collection: Pre-Columbian,Style: Olmecoid,Medium: Terracotta.   « Less

Olmec Stone Anthropomorphic Sculpture - CK.0634, Origin: Mesoamerica,Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide x 2.25" (5.7cm) depth,  More »

Olmec Stone Anthropomorphic Sculpture - CK.0634, Origin: Mesoamerica,Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 5" (12.7cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide x 2.25" (5.7cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec,Medium: Stone.   « Less

Olmecoid Stone Sculpture of a Monkey - CK.0635, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 600 BC, Dimensions: 10" (25.4cm) high x 3" (7.6cm) wide x 6" (15.2cm) depth,  More »

Olmecoid Stone Sculpture of a Monkey - CK.0635, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 600 BC, Dimensions: 10" (25.4cm) high x 3" (7.6cm) wide x 6" (15.2cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone. The Olmecs are generally considered to be the ultimate ancestor of all subsequent Mesoamerican civilizations. Thriving between about 1200 and 400 BC, their base was the tropical lowlands of south central Mexico, an area characterized by swamps punctuated by low hill ridges and volcanoes. Here the Olmecs practiced advanced farming techniques and constructed permanent settlements, including San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, La Venta, Tres Zapotes, Laguna de los Cerros, and La Mojarra. However, the consolidation of their city-states led to notable cultural influence far beyond their heartland, and throughout the Mesoamerican region. This was confirmed in 2005 with the use of NAA (Neutron Activation Analysis) and petrography to demonstrate the spread of Olmec ceramic vessels. It would appear that the Olmec style became synonymous with elite status in other (predominantly highland) groups, with evidence for exchange of artifacts in both directions. A non-literate group, the Olmecs nevertheless paved the way for the development of writing systems in the loosely defined Epi- Olmec period (c. 500 BC). Further innovations include arguably the first use of the zero, so instrumental in the Maya long count vigesimal calendrical system. They also appear to have been the originators of the famous Mesoamerican ballgame so prevalent among later cultures in the region, and either retained or invented several religious symbols such as the feathered serpent and the rain spirit, which persisted in subsequent and related cultures until the middle ages.   « Less

Olmec Stone Spoon - CK.0686, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide x 2" (5.1cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Olmec Stone Spoon - CK.0686, Origin: Mesoamerica, Circa: 1200 BC to 900 BC, Dimensions: 6.5" (16.5cm) high x 2.5" (6.4cm) wide x 2" (5.1cm) depth, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Stone. The Olmecs are generally considered to be the ultimate ancestor of all subsequent Mesoamerican civilizations. Thriving between about 1200 and 400 BC, their base was the tropical lowlands of south central Mexico, an area characterized by swamps punctuated by low hill ridges and volcanoes. Here the Olmecs practiced advanced farming techniques and constructed permanent settlements, including San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, La Venta, Tres Zapotes, Laguna de los Cerros, and La Mojarra. However, the consolidation of their city-states led to notable cultural influence far beyond their heartland, and throughout the Mesoamerican region. This was confirmed in 2005 with the use of NAA (Neutron Activation Analysis) and petrography to demonstrate the spread of Olmec ceramic vessels. It would appear that the Olmec style became synonymous with elite status in other (predominantly highland) groups, with evidence for exchange of artifacts in both directions. A non-literate group, the Olmecs nevertheless paved the way for the development of writing systems in the loosely defined Epi- Olmec period (c. 500 BC). Further innovations include arguably the first use of the zero, so instrumental in the Maya long count vigesimal calendrical system. They also appear to have been the originators of the famous Mesoamerican ballgame so prevalent among later cultures in the region, and either retained or invented several religious symbols such as the feathered serpent and the rain spirit, which persisted in subsequent and related cultures until the middle ages.   « Less

Olmec Jade Sculpture of a Standing Were-Jaguar - PF.0327, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 1200 BC to 600 BC, Dimensions: 8.25" (21.0cm) high, Catalogue: V1, Collection: Pre-Columbian,  More »

Olmec Jade Sculpture of a Standing Were-Jaguar - PF.0327, Origin: Mexico, Circa: 1200 BC to 600 BC, Dimensions: 8.25" (21.0cm) high, Catalogue: V1, Collection: Pre-Columbian, Style: Olmec, Medium: Jade. The powerful snarling expression that immediately focuses our gaze shows this to be a jaguar man, a hybrid of human and beast that figures prominently in Olmec cosmology. It is as if the Olmecs understood some part of us all that is not quite civilized, something primal, bestial, that stretches back to before recorded time. We respond to such a masterpiece at some deep visceral level that transcends the purely aesthetic. It awakens emotions we were perhaps unaware of.   « Less