In 1862, plantation farmers in Veracruz, Mexico, thought they had found, an iron kettle buried. Thinking the kettle might have gold, they dug and dug… until they revealed a giant Olmec head.

Uncovering the Olmec

The find in 1862 was the first Olmec sculpture in Mexico. About 70 years passed before discovering more objects. The Olmec art was the expression of religion and government, it also influenced future civilizations. 

Making a connection to the Olmecs.

Art historians believe that the sculptures of the Olmecs tell about religion. Olmec art was created to give power to the shaman (A shaman is a priest who is believed to be able to contact gods, demons, and ancestral spirits) or ruler. 

Shamans

The shaman was believed to have been able to travel between different worlds (heaven, earth, and the underworld) as an animal. The jaguar is the most common sculpture form.