Museo de Anthropogia de Xalapa

We just went to the Museo de Anthropologia de Xalapa and got to see many ancient artifacts, including several of the famous Olmec heads.  Seeing these enormous ancient sculptures in person was mind-blowing.  They are huge (6-18 tons!) and may be some 2500-3000 years old!  Some people note that the sculptures interestingly resemble West African facial features. I am intrigued by the possibility that they could be evidence of pre-Columbian West African contact (though this is heavily debated). Regardless of if the sculptures were inspired by West African visitors, they are still magnificent.

The Olmec were the earliest recorded "civilization" in Mesoamerica, located right here in the state of Veracruz.  One of the other things I also found interesting was the way they seemed to celebrate difference. Their sculptures included people with hair-lips, crossed eyes, and Down syndrome. It was such the opposite of today’s society.  People who stood out or would be looked at as "weird" by today's standards were venerated and held in high-esteem within Olmec culture.

We also learned that the Olmec were thought to have destroyed their own monuments, perhaps after a ruler died. This was opposite of what I initially thought to be the purpose of these monuments. I mean, we think of “great civilizations” sculpting monuments or constructing architecture that will last millennium and be appreciated by future "great civilizations." However, the Olmec didn't seem to do create sculptures or build huge pyramids for these reasons.

What other things were important to the Olmec and why did their empire fall? These are questions that we'll most likely be asking for millennium to come.