This is a common theme in Olmec iconography. But unlike earlier Olmec art, including the colossal heads, the carving is not naturalistic and doesn’t seem to represent a particular ruler.

Here's Karl Taube again: "They would modify their heads - it's ... such as pottery and sculptures, and they show us that writing was originally widespread across the Olmec heartland.

Mexico says the artefacts were taken illegally from an Olmec archaeological site in eastern Mexico. They were seized from controversial Costa Rican art collector Leonardo Patterson in southern ...

Here's Karl Taube again: "They would modify their heads - it's ... such as pottery and sculptures, and they show us that writing was originally widespread across the Olmec heartland.

and the city of Austin sure does feature several ginormous sculptures: a giant spider, giant couch potatoes, and a giant Olmec head, to name a few. There’s also The Cathedral of Junk ...