Past & Present

Lamentable news from the torrid swamplands of Tabasco state in Mexico, where the ruins at La Venta of just about the most ancient civilization of meso-America is located. The L.A. Times reported:

Vandals have caused more than $20,000 (300,000 pesos) worth of damage to archaeological artifacts in the park and museum La Venta in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

Three people were arrested by police after they entered the park and performed religious rituals on a number of stones that date to Mexico’s Olmec culture. According to Milenio, 23 pieces were damaged by the vandals who used salt, oil and grape juice on the stones, some of which are more than 3,200 years old.

Many may not recognize the name of the Olmecs, or not be able to distinguish them from the jumble of names of indigenous civilizations of what is now Latin America. But you may recognize their most enduring artifact, which survives 3,000 years because it is made from stone and weighs dozens of tons. It is the colossal head, a replica of which from the National Museum of Anthropology is shown above. Does anyone remember that opening to the Simpsons TV show when that adorable family is heading for the couch and it turns out there’s a colossal head in the room?

Trackback URI | Comments RSS