The Mysteries Of Olmec Art

A diverse range of cultural groups have made their mark in the region of Mesoamerica

over the centuries, and have become very well known due to the amazing architectural sites and wonderful artistic artifacts that they have left in their wake. The Olmec Civilization is just such a culture, and they were in the region in the period between 1500 BCE and 400 BCE. Many questions have arisen from experts that have studied their works, and this has led to many questions about their mysterious culture. Although they are not as famous as the Mayans and the Aztecs, they were the first highly developed culture to set foot in the region.

When referring to Olmec art, one is usually talking about their carved figurines. They sculpted a great deal of things, ranging in size from less than a few inches tall to several feet in height. From giant faces to jade infants in the fetal position, the pieces all show definitive hallmarks and similar motifs. Illustrations of the human body show an unusual and curious variety of renderings; while some show immensely creative (and consistent) distortion of features, others are strikingly naturalistic.

One marker of the Olmec culture is the 'baby-face' figurine, a motif that consistently shows up in multiple archaeological sites. These figures have chubby bodies, and highly detailed faces with an infant's jowls, a downturned mouth, and slits for eyes. Curiously, the heads are usually pear-shaped, providing evidence that the culture practiced artificial cranial deformation in order to modify the skull. It's not clear what the small sculptures represented to the civilization, but the sheer numbers recovered from dig sites indicates that they were of great importance.

Another motif is the were-jaguar. The big cats were revered by the Olmecs as well as many cultures which came after them, and no wonder; they were the most incredible predator of the jungle. A cleft in the head and a stout baby's body were part of the hallmarks of this style, that also included a frowning mouth and elongated eyes.. Other figurines combined human and animal aspects together; they seem to represent a person in the process of transforming into a beast. Debate rages over the meaning of these statues; some scholars believe that they represented shamans or priests wearing a disguise.

The delicately carved figurines are not the only artistic mystery the Olmecs left behind: there has been at least one cave found in the state of Guerrero, called Juxlahuaca, which contains murals which may have been made by them. Elaborate and well-developed cave art has been found at this site in Mesoamerica, where their motifs are evident. The site contains the 6-foot tall Painting 1, which appears to depict human sacrifice, or at least a holy ritual involving two people. There are also red jaguars and serpents fresco-ed on the rocky walls, and several skeletal remains, indicating this place was a ritual burial ground at some point.

Most instances of the appraisal of Olmec art, fail to actually attribute meaning to those items studied, and this has made the evaluation of their culture even more intriguing for experts.. Unfortunately complete sites may never be located that can shed light on why the Olmecs used certain motifs. They represented their environment in an unusual way, and their paintings and carvings are brilliant examples of their creative thought processes..

by: Robert Nickel

POST COMMENT

Group Costume Ideas Are Entertaining A Gluten-free Diet Ways For A Pr Professional To Gain Peoples Trust Mortgage Rates Dropping To Record Lows Create Added Revenue On Line Straightforward With No Losing Your Shirt! All About The Prickly Pear How To Choose The Right Wifi Or 3g Tablet Pc-elite Ampe A85 Scottish Claymore Swords- Weapons Of True Legendry Warrior 500 Fast Cash The Money You Need Now The Great Viking Weapons How You Can See What Someone Else Does On Their Cell Phone Your Dream Job Will Come No, Its Not Instagram