I was really taken with this museo, not all of the explanations for the carvings rang true for me but then maybe that's why much of the Olmec Civilization is a mystery.
I've spent a lot of time in Mexico and participated in 2 archeological projects including one dealing with the Olmecs. I even wrote a few papers on them.
@ScotlandSkye you are fortunate to have participated on such an interesting site. I worked on an archaeological dig many years ago on the site of Fort Calgary. These projects are fascinating. It would be amazing to participate on one with these types of artwork. We found post holes and small artifacts were able to prove the layout of the old fort.
I see we have a lot of the same pics, it is a beautiful garden setting as well. Did they ever come up with a reasonable explanation for how they moved the huge blocks of basalt from the quarries 100 km distant?
@Surfpirate If you look at the map I posted, I believe they still hold to the idea that the heads were floated down rivers and then moved under a rolling log sled
@SkotlandSkye If I recall correctly the closest quarries were 70 miles away on the other side of the swamp in the upper left of your map and the sculpting was done on the site where the heads were found which makes the original block of stone even larger than the head. It must have been quite the engineering feat to accomplish this 500 BCE
@Surfpirate I think there were various theories about water levels and missing technology, as there always is in the case of massive building projects in pre-history and with "lost" cultures. I was doing cultural/comparative research...not the technological side of their civilization. My Prof and I were working on comparisons to Polynesian art and culture.
Posted by PiratefishSeasons greetings, you heathens.
Posted by SurfpirateA photographic collection of pagan costumes associated with the winter solstice. [dangerousminds.net]
Posted by MoonTigerIIAncient Evenings Fun!
Posted by AnonySchmoose[cell.
Posted by AnonySchmoose[cell.
Posted by AnonySchmoose[cell.
Posted by EyesThatSmileThis sculptor is amazing. [boredpanda.com]
Posted by DruviusWell preserved 500 year old ship found at bottom of Baltic Sea. Way cool find, hope we have the means to properly investigate it. [sciencealert.com]
Posted by qpr81there's a small island in front of the temple site and they found artifacts even there.
Posted by qpr81there's a small island in front of the temple site and they found artifacts even there.
Posted by qpr81there's a small island in front of the temple site and they found artifacts even there.
Posted by qpr81the hole in this image -according to the guide- was a window to let the sun rays hit a certain spot announcing the summer/winter etc.
Posted by qpr81Trajan's column in Rome. Shame they put a pope on top of it. Even though this is a monument raised over a genocide it's still something worth seeing.
Posted by qpr81Trajan's column in Rome. Shame they put a pope on top of it. Even though this is a monument raised over a genocide it's still something worth seeing.
Posted by qpr81Trajan's column in Rome. Shame they put a pope on top of it. Even though this is a monument raised over a genocide it's still something worth seeing.
Posted by qpr81Ħaġar Qim temple in Malta. Stunning even if a bit of walk...