La Venta Park Museum

La Venta Park Museum is an open-air museum located in the city of Villahermosa in the State of Tabasco, Mexico, that houses one of the largest collections of pieces belonging to the Olmec culture, discovered in the pre-Hispanic city of La Venta. This site was designed, organized and set up by the Tabasco poet Carlos Pellicer, its inauguration took place on March 4, 1958, and it is the only open-air museum in Latin America.

The museum has an extension of 6.8 hectares in which a collection of 33 archaeological monuments is shown, including altars, stelae, colossal heads and 33 monoliths dating from the years 1300 to 200 BC. C., and its content is complemented by around 421 species of living fauna, including mammals, birds and reptiles, as well as the representative flora of this tropical region.

Entrance to the La Venta Park Museum.

Enclosure with spider monkeys. Right at the entrance is an enclosure with sleeping spider monkeys.

Spider monkeys. Spider monkeys are New World monkeys belonging to the genus Ateles, part of the subfamily Atelinae, family Atelidae. Like other atelines, they are found in tropical forests of Central and South America, from southern Mexico to Brazil. The genus consistes of seven species, all of which are under threat; the brown spider monkey is critically endangered. They are also notable for their ability to be easily bred in captivity. Disproportionately long limbs and long prehensile tails make them one of the largest New World monkeys and give rise to their common name. Spider monkeys live in the upper layers of the rainforest, and forage in the high canopy, from 25 to 30 m (82 to 98 ft). They primarily eat fruits, but will also occasionally consume leaves, flowers, and insects. Due to their large size, spider monkeys require large tracts of moist evergreen forests, and prefer undisturbed primary rainforest. They are social animals and live in bands of up to 35 individuals, but will split up to forage during the day. See more at Spider monkey - Wikipedia.

Ceiba tree. Ceiba is a genus of trees in the family Malvaceae, native to tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas (from Mexico and the Caribbean to N. Argentina) and tropical West Africa. Some species can grow to 70 m (230 ft) tall or more, with a straight, largely branchless trunk that culminates in a huge, spreading canopy, and buttress roots that can be taller than a grown person. The tree plays an important part in the mythologies of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican cultures. In addition, several Amazonian tribes of eastern Peru believe deities live in Ceiba tree species throughout the jungle. The Ceiba, or ya’axché (in the Mopan Mayan language), symbolised to the Maya civilization an axis mundi which connects the planes of the Underworld (Xibalba) and the sky with that of the terrestrial realm. This concept of a central world tree is often depicted as a Ceiba trunk. The unmistakable thick conical thorns in clusters on the trunk were reproduced by the southern lowland Maya of the Classical Period on cylindrical ceramic burial urns or incense holders. Modern Maya still often respectfully leave the tree standing when harvesting forest timber. The Ceiba tree is represented by a cross and serves as an important architectural motif in the Temple of the Cross Complex at Palenque. See more at Ceiba - Wikipedia.

The Traveller. Monument 13 of La Venta. Measurements: height 87 cm (34 in), width 86 cm (33 in), depth 92 cm (36 in). It consists of a basalt drum with a smoothed plane surface on one end, upon which appears the low relief carving of a striding male human figure in profile holding a banner or pennant. The front of the piece is finely dressed, and the central figure was neatly executed, although it is now showing effects of exposure to the elements. The figure has an unusual and non-Olmec nose and closed mouth. It wears an unusual and elaborate hairdo, a bead necklace, wristlets, sandals and a rather typical Olmec abdomen wrap and penis cover. No ear decorations are worn.

The Grandmother. Monument 5 of La Venta. Measurements: height 142 cm (56 in), width 100 cm (39 in). Known as “the Grandmother”, this monument was discovered towards the end of the thirties in the patio of basaltic columns, close to stela 1 and monument 56 in unit A. It is a sculpture that apparently represents an old woman kneeling with her legs to one side, holding a vessel in her hands as if making an offering.

The Grandmother. On her head something like a tuft does not seem to be hair, but rather a headdress from which a cape hangs over the shoulders and the back. Although it is eroded, this piece can not be considered representative of the best Olmeca sculptures. Like some other pieces, it may have been deliberately buried by the Olmecas.

The Bearded Man. Stela 3 of La Venta. Measurements: height 426 cm (168 in), width 190 cm (75 in). The scene depicted on this low relief panel is basically two large and elaborately attired individuals in profile, facing each other, and also surrounded by six small and less well carved attendant figures. Both central figures (L and R) have headdresses, as do the small attendant figures. All mouths in the figure are probably closed, with bow-shaped upper lips. Capes are also worn by all the figures which have not been eroded away. Figure R, although damaged, may have had a tear duct in the inner eye corner. Hands are quite well executed on several of the small subordinate figures. At the very top of this piece, in low relief, are two probable aquatic saurians that look like alligators, one of which has the rattles of a rattlesnake at the end of his tail.

A Basalt Column Tomb. Monument 7 of La Venta.

Interior of the Basalt Column Tomb.

The Young Warrior. Monument 3 of La Venta. The monument 3 is a basalt sculpture, measuring 1.98 m (78 in) tall, 1.6 m (63 in) wide and 1 m (39 in) deep; it weighed 12.8 t.

The Young Warrior. The sculpture does not seem to be finished and is furthermore heavily eroded by the elements, making its analysis difficult. It represents a human head, surmounted by a headdress that reaches the eyelashes but whose details are erased by erosion. A strap goes down in front of each of the ears, to the bottom of the monument. The ears have large flat rings that cover these straps. Although most of the face is obliterated, the folds of the bridge of the nose are still visible, a feature common to most other Olmec colossal heads, which frown.

Approaching a Colossal Head. Three of the La Venta heads were found in a line running east-west in the northern Complex I; all three faced northwards, away from the city centre. The other head was found in Complex B to the south of the Great Pyramid, in a plaza that included a number of other sculptures. The latter, the first of the La Venta heads to be discovered, was found during archaeological exploration of La Venta in 1925. The other three remained unknown to archaeologists until a local boy guided Matthew Stirling to them while he was excavating the first head in 1940. They were located approximately 0.9 kilometres (0.56 mi) to the north of Monument 1.

Colossal Head. La Venta Monument 4 measures 2.26 metres (7.4 ft) high by 1.98 metres (6.5 ft) wide and 1.86 metres (6.1 ft) deep. It weighs 19.8 tons. It was found a few metres to the west of Monument 2 and has been moved to the La Venta Park Museum.

Colossal Head. As with the other heads in the group, its archaeological context has been radiocarbon dated to between 1000 and 600 BC. The headdress is elaborate and, although damaged, various details are still discernible. The base of the headdress is formed by three horizontal strips running over the forehead. One side is decorated with a double-disc motif that may have been repeated on the other; if so, damage to the right side has obliterated any trace of it. The top of the headdress is decorated with the clawed foot of a bird of prey. Either straps or plaits of hair descend on either side of the face, from the headdress to the base of the monument. Only one earspool survives; it is flat, in the form of a rounded square, and is decorated with a cross motif. The ears have been completely eroded away and the lips are damaged. The surviving features display a frown and creasing around the nose and cheeks. The head displays prominent teeth.

Large olmec basalt carved head.

Large olmec basalt carved head. This unfinished stone head from La Venta shows the way the stones were carved from round balls.

Coati sleeping in the trees. Coatis, also known as coatimundis, are members of the family Procyonidae in the genera Nasua and Nasuella. They are diurnal mammals native to South America, Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States. Overall, coatis are widespread, occupying habitats ranging from hot and arid areas to humid Amazonian rainforests or even cold Andean mountain slopes, including grasslands and bushy areas. Their geographical range extends from the southwestern U.S. (southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas) through northern Uruguay. See more at Coati - Wikipedia.

Coati sleeping on a stone altar. Altar 6 of La Venta. Altar 6, from La Venta, is a very unimaginative example of a so-called table top altar. It has a figure seated in front on a 30 cm (12 in) high platform projecting 5 cm (2 in) from the front of the piece. The figure is portrayed very clumsily. It is nude, except for a headdress and ear decoration. Although no genitals are shown, it is assumed that the figure is male. Its legs are crossed in front, with arms resting on the knees and hands hanging down. No fingers or toes are shown. Workmanship is very crude and angular, with very little modeling done. Ears probably were shown as slightly raised with incised circles. The nose is an incised triangle. No details of mouth or nasion are present. The headdress is faintly shown. One plain circular earplug is present on the left ear. None is present on the right. The figure on Altar 6 is probably the poorest example of high relief carved seated figures from Olmec altars.

Altar 5 of La Venta. Altar 5 faces Altar 4 across Structure D-8 (one of the dozens of mounds at La Venta, the remains of platforms).

Altar 5 of La Venta. Altar 5 is similar in design and size to Altar 4, except that the central figure holds an inert, perhaps dead, were-jaguar baby.

Left side of Altar 5. The left side of Altar 5 features bas-reliefs of humans holding quite lively were-jaguar babies.

Left side of Altar 5. Some have seen child sacrifice echoed in the limp were-jaguar baby on the front of Altar 5. Others, however, view the tableau as a myth of human emergence or as story of a spiritual journey.

The Governor. Like other sculptures from La Venta, it is carved in brown olivine basalt, from the mountains of Los Tuxtlas. Its dimensions are 113 cm (44 in) high at the front, and 110 cm (43 in) at the back; It is 96 cm (38 in) wide at the legs, 84 cm (33 in) thick at the base, and weighs 750 kg. It is kept in a very good condition; the erosion that it has suffered is shown mainly in small holes scattered throughout its surface, and in the wear of the mouth; the fractures in front of the upper part of the headdress, of the band, of the nose and of the toes of both feet, seem recent due to the different tone in the color of the stone. According to the established cataloging, it is number 77 among the monuments of La Venta.

The Governor. The head is a cube that ends at the top in a headdress made up of various sections, and the face is a square with rounded corners. The features, discreetly modelled, they are those of a child, similar to those of many other oImec countenances. They are not features that show individuality, since with them it is not a question of highlighting something particular but of repeating a scheme. The face looks, as in so many others, imperturbable; it is not intended to represent the singular expression; an archetype remains. Although broken at the tip, it can still be seen that the nose joined directly with the upper lip, now mutilated, the slightly open mouth reveals the upper gum, the thick lips project outwards, and the corners contract downwards. It is the well-known Olmec mouth, designated as "jaguar mouth" for the fact that its ends curve downwards. The obese body, of tight fleshiness, is joined to the head by means of that short and vigorous neck that, due to such characteristics, Covarrubias designated as "bull's neck". The legs are somewhat bulky and the arms, like thick compact rolls, bend tight against the body.

Governor's back. In his rear view, the geometric shapes of the headdress contrast with the undulating surfaces of the head and back. Below the band of the headdress, the recessed nape of the neck is covered with locks of hair that hang over the back, and in the center of which stands out a superimposed element that is difficult to appreciate (according to Contreras, it is a small inverted head). The concave surface of the nape and neck gently becomes the cloak that falls from the shoulders, and by whose convex curvature the bodily features from the front are collected. The cape or cloak is furrowed by parallel horizontal bands and an alternate design formed, apparently, by knots and by a stripe that forks at the top.

Feline Altar. Altar 1 of La Venta. Measurements: height 185 cm (73 in), width 265 cm (104), thickness 280 cm (110 in). This altar was found south of the main pyramid in La Venta in 1940. The altars have been given this name although their function was not the one implied by the term “altar”. Actually, this piece, as will be seen also in altar 4, does not possess the characteristic features of the Olmeca monolyths. This sculpture is almost destroyed. Its features are both serpent and jaguar, and the size is the same as the other altars, but none of the characteristic elements are to be found in its form. The jaguar, main god of the Olmecas, represented both the spirit of life and fertility. In some cases, such as this, the features of the feline are merged with those of a serpent, becoming an imaginary animal. These pieces which present the features of both animals, symbolized the mythical unión of the earth (the tiger) with water (the serpent): the water which fertilizes the earth.

Altar of the Tecolotes. Monument 71 of La Venta. A large head-shaped stone with stylized jaguar nose and mouth, and seven little heads carved in low relief on the sides and top constitute Monument 71 of La Venta. This peculiar head shaped piece is 83 cm (33 in) high, 65 cm (26 in) wide and 67 cm (27 in) thick.

Altar of the Tecolotes. Altar of the Owls: this altar represents various figures of birds surrounding the main character. In front, it has a stylized mouth and nose of a jaguar. This nose and mouth is somewhat damaged at the bottom; no fangs are apparent. The left side of the piece is damaged, but the right side shows what may have been a stylized ear. Presumably, the left side once had this also. Above the nose, ears, on top, and apparently in pairs on the back of the piece are small low relief faces, roughly 20 cm (8 in) by 20 cm (8 in) in size, all contained within similar motifs. Probably there were once ten of these faces, but at least three have been eroded or polished away. From those that are left it is only possible to say that they probably had sub-rhomboidal nasions, bow-shaped upper lips, open mouths with no teeth, and puffy cheeks. Eyes are represented as depressions, but no details may be seen. The entire piece is highly polished all over, and is exceedingly smooth. Most of the detail on the remaining faces is gone due to this effect. The left side is fractured off, the fracture being somewhat worn.

Human-like Jaguar. Monument 59 of La Venta. Measurements: height 95 cm (37 in), width 66 cm (26 in), length 105 cm (41 in). In Olmeca sculpture we frequently encounter representations of jaguars which have been endowed with human features thus giving birth to the concept of a humanized jaguar, but not of a man-jaguar. This sculpture was apparently discovered during the sixties between complex B and C. It represents a humanized jaguar with its legs folded under, supporting a slab on top of its body, from the head to the haunches; this slab may have been used as a seat or a throne, although thoroughly polished. This sculpture is to be noted for the feline face, where the eyes are represented by grooves carved into the stone; the commissures of the mouth turn down, the fangs are distinguishable, and the hands are folded over the chest.

Human-like Jaguar. Although the concept of this sculpture is not unique, it is interesting to note that because of a hole carved out between the back and the slab it gives the impression of being lighter. The face is quite deteriorated but still, together with the volume, the impression is that of a harmonious piece of great quality.

Cetacean. Monument 20 of La Venta. Discovered in 1959 near the tomb of monolythic columns of La Venta. Measurements: height 35 cm (14 in), width 62 cm (24 in), length 185 cm (73 in). In spite of having been a group which inhabited the coasts, the Olmecs did not leave many representations of aquatic animals. This sculpture, carved on a slate, represents a cetacean, perhaps a dolphin. Some authors have identified it rather as a manatee, an aquatic mammalian nearly extinct because of its irrational exploitation; these animals are easy prey for hunters and fishermen when the females are drawn towards the river bank during mating season. It is probable that the Olmecas, in the same manner that happened with other groups up to recent years, hunted them for their abundant meat and fat, and because they could use their bones for making tools. However, this would not be an exact image of a manatee or sea cow, as they are also known. This representation has a few features that these animals lack and a series of very fine lines or incisions were engraved, forming an echelon design.

The Monkey Looking to the Sky. Monument 56 of La Venta. Measurements: height 124 cm (49 in), width 54 cm (21 in), thickness 43 cm (17 in). Found west of complex C in La Venta, this piece, characterized by its great force and realism, was achieved by the sculptor by using the natural form of a basaltic column. Because of its position it has been interpreted as an “observer of the skies”, but it is also possible that it was originally embedded horizontally in a building. The face was mutilated before its discovery and it is therefore impossible to ascertain the original representation. However, this sculpture is interesting not only for its quality but also because it may be the antecedent of other sculptures with a shank which were discovered among the Olmec representations at Tres Zapotes. For this reason, it is worthwhile to quote an observation made by Beatriz de la Fuente in 1977: “Those who contemplate monument 56 of La Venta imagine that it is a monkey or a wise man looking up at the sky, but the truth is that we are far from knowing what the representation was originally intended to be.”

The Child Jaguar. Monument 60 of La Venta. Measurements: height 61 cm (24 in), width 51 cm (20 in). Seated sculpture of which, because it is quite eroded and fragmented where its extremities should be, it is impossible to give a detailed description as to its original position. It seems to be an anthropomorphized animal, as this idea was frequently expressed by the Olmecas in their representations, nearly always related to the jaguar-cult of which, in this case, we are reminded only because of the vigilant attitude. The face, although deteriorated, does not seem to belong to an adult feline, but is rather that of a pup. Of the pieces that are in the park, this is the only one that is not originally from La Venta but from Ixhuatlán, Veracruz, where it was discovered in the twenties.

The Acrobat. Monument 65 of La Venta. Measurements: height 66 cm (26 in), width 49 cm (19 in). Representation of an acrobat, the first that clearly (in bulk) can be recognized in the Olmeca culture. Although identification of this piece is difficult because of the poor technique with which it was executed, it is possible to perceive that it is an acrobat leaning on his forearms and with his legs doubled back towards the bottom of his head, which is covered with a helmet which, being wide and flat, could have been used as a seat. The face is very eroded and the features can barely be guessed at. On the sides of the head and covering the ears hang bands finishing in circular adornments.

Human Head. Monument 78 of La Venta. Measurements: height 92 cm (36 in), width 74 cm (29 in). Small head carved in basaltic rock. It was discovered between 1976 and 1977 towards the eastern part of the C complex, outside of the monument zone of La Venta. It is in a bad State of conservation and the features of more than half the face can barely be distinguished. For example, on the right side one may observe that the eye, in the form of a striation, seems to be closed; however, the same manner of representing the eye is also found in monuments that are not as deteriorated and we may therefore suppose that this was simply a technical solution. Also to be noted is the typical Olmec eyebrow in the form of a flame with an incision which runs from the top of the head to the jaw. Some designs engraved on the left cheek complete the decoration. It seems that this piece was destroyed by the Olmecas themselves and for this reason it is impossible to observe other details. Even so, judging by the vestige of the mouth and even of the nose, it is possible to imagine that it might have been destroyed before it was completed. Finally, we might add that it is not known if there was a body which corresponded to this head, as frequently happens with Olmeca sculptures. Quite often bodies are found without heads, or heads without bodies, as will be seen in other examples of this museum-park.

Triumphal Altar. Altar 4 of La Venta. Discovered in 1915, this monument was part of unit B. Measurements: height 160 cm (63 in), width 319 cm (126 in). The altars are an exclusively Olmeca creation and six of them, of different sizes, have been found in La Venta. They are important both because of their size, exceptional in Mexican prehispanic sculpture, and for their meaning. They are all made of stone block ending in a cornice, and in the center, on the front, a niche that may have represented the cave through which they emerged from the earth. Inside the niche a seated human figure was represented, in some cases with a child upon its lap.

Triumphal Altar. Altar 4 is, without a doubt, the best preserved. The figure that emerges from the niche, almost separated from the stone block, is leaning slightly forward, reflecting the great technical ability of the artist.

Triumphal Altar. The personage represented is wearing an adornment, dress and headdress similar to those that may be observed in other Olmeca sculptures. On the upper part of the niche is a stylized representation of a jaguar and its fauces; in the middle, between the fangs, is the motif of crossed flags which represents the feline’s spots, a feature which appears on other sculptures and in Olmeca ceramics.

Triumphal Altar. We can also observe, around the niche, the representation of a cord from which four smooth appendixes are projected, as if long tails were born out of a sort of a “U” shaped cartouche.

Triumphal Altar. The central figure is joined by a rope to the characters on the sides. In prehispanic iconography ropes could represent union, submission, or dependence. Here the sculptor may have wished to show the dominant lineage or the union of two different groups, since the features of one of the lateral characters which is still preserved are totally different from the physical type of the Olmecas, and the opposite is true of the one who is emerging from the entrails of the earth through the niche.

Mosaic. Measurements: 463 cm (182 in) x 470 cm (185 in). In La Venta, three units of mosaics of this kind have been found; two of them were discovered in 1942. All were situated in different places and buried several meters underground. All three are similar and represent the stylized face of a jaguar: the mouth can be observed on the bottom and the eyes and the eyebrows are outlined by four rhombus.

Mosaic. These mosaics were built with 450 to 500 serpentine fragments, perfectly cut and laid out to form the animal’s face according to a previously planned design. The first one was buried on the eastern side of the central plaza of unit A. The second was situated on the central axis of the plaza of unit A, but close to the Great Pyramid. The third mosaic was incomplete when found; it was on the side opposite the first one and is still in its original place.

Mosaic. The purpose of these mosaics must have been religious, as an offer to the earth, represented by the jaguar god.

Stela of the King. Stele 2 of La Venta. Measurements: height (visible) 257 cm (101 in), width 209 cm (82 in), thickness 90 cm (35 in). Discovered south of the Great Pyramid in 1925, this monument is of primordial importarme, the same as stele 3, because they mark a change in the iconography. It is likely that the events carved on them were religious and political, as well as ceremonial, since the central figures seem to assume an attitude of domination over the other figures. This manner of representing ideas by means of carved scenes is an innovation in Olmeca religious art and can also be found on certain altars in the metropolitan area, and outside of it, in bas-reliefs or paintings executed on large rocks. It is the way for transmitting an idea when the isolated figure is insufficient to achieve the desired effect. This solution became more and more refined and later was adopted by other cultures. On this stele, carved in basaltic rock, the identification of the main personage is obvious. It is outstanding not only because of the position it occupies in the scene, bul also because of the expression of ancestry represented by the tall headdress, adorned on the front part with what seems to be a turtle - a symbol of fertility - with this head adornment finishing in the form of an ear of corn, a detail which can also be observed on the headdress of one of the personages of stele 3. Aside from all this, the figure can be identified as a high dignitary both by the commanding staff, held in an arrogant manner across the chest, and by the rich garb. Another characteristic which points out the importance of the personage - precisely marking the change in Olmeca iconography - are the six figures which, full of movement, surround him in a protecting and reverential attitude, giving birth to the scene. The differences between the characters were emphasized by the different coifs and commanding staffs they have in their hands.

Colossal Head. Monument 1 of La Venta. Discovered in 1825 south of the Great Pyramid or unit C, relatively close to stele 2. Measurements: height 241 cm (95 in), circumference 640 cm (252 in). This head has a more severe expression, the lips are not slightly open as is the case with the other three and the space between the eyebrows is so noticeable that it would appear to have a bulge on the upper part of the nose. The helmet is adorned by a wide band; on the front, three motifs were carved which could be claws or fangs, and on the upper part of the head a horseshoe shape with a straight base is clearly delineated. The ears are adorned by a motif that appear to be flowers with four petals.

Colossal Head. These sculptures express all the genius of the Olmecas as sculptors, their mastery of stone work in order to produce pieces extraordinary for their artistic quality as well as for demonstrating a great knowledge of carving techniques, especially for that remote era. Of the 16 known colossal heads, 4 were found in La Venta. The meaning of the heads has not been completely elucidated, but the possibility has been mentioned that they may be related to the beheading rites and the ball game, or also that they could be portraits of chiefs or warriors. Whatever their meaning might be, it must have been of great importance for the Olmecas, considering the amount of work and effort necessary for their elaboration. Basalt, the material of which they are made, was transported from the region of the Tuxtlas in Veracruz, probably on rafts, which required a collective and well organized effort due to the enormous weight of the colossal heads.

The Character with a Banner. Monument 63 of La Venta. Measurements: height 256 cm (101 in), width 75 cm (30 in), thickness 45 cm (18 in). This monument, discovered in 1959, may be considered a stele because of the way the stone was used to represent the scene of a personage in a dynamic attitude. In his hands he is holding a standard, an enormous fish with fantastic features which might have been modeled after a shark. Barely visible, the human figure, bearded and simply dressed with a sash, loin cloth, and an enormous cap adorned with feathers on the back, has his arms extended towards the front. There are other motifs on the sides and the back of the column which, unfortunately, is very damaged and the relief too worn to be able to learn anything more about this piece, exceptional because of the presence of an aquatic animal. As we mentioned before, this is quite unusual in the representations of this coastal group.

Human Head with Cleft. Monument 64 of La Venta. Measurements: height 54 cm (21 in), width 42 cm (17 in). Human head, very eroded on the front. It probably wore a band around the head, and we may observe a “V” shaped cleft which often appears in Olmec representations. It is not possible to discover whether this head was part of a complete body, since it is not unusual to find this kind of sculptures without obtaining a corresponding torso; the Olmecas frequently carved only a part of the human body.

Silhouette. Monument 79 of La Venta. Measurements: height 182 cm (72 in), maximum width 75 cm (30 in). The rocks in no way were determinative of the sculpture, but frequently the natural form of the material was used to achieve the result with less effort. On some occasions the sculptor was not able to complete his work and abandoned it. This is the case with this basaltic column on which only a silhouette was delineated; for this reason, it is impossible to recognize what the sculptor meant to represent. Or should we perhaps think of it as a finished piece?

The Altar of the Dialog. Altar 3 of La Venta. Measurements: height 161 cm (62 in), width 166 cm (65 in), thickness 166 cm (65 in). This monumental piece was found on the platform next to the Great Pyramid in 1925. Following the general form of the altars, it has a niche carved in the front and inside it, a seated personage; next to the central figure another individual was carved and two more on the left side of the altar. The main character was carved in bulk, the body leaning slightly forward and the legs doubled back. The arms were mutilated, probably during prehispanic times, so it is impossible to tell what position they were in. According to his importance, the personage is richly dressed with a large coif, circular ear hoops, belt and loin cloth.

The Altar of the Dialog. On his left side, in relief, we can distinguish a much smaller figure; on the left side, also in bas-relief and barely perceivable, are the figures of two other personages sitting on a mat, but on different planes in order to emphasize a hierarchical distinction. Judging by the movement of their hands, they are caught up in animated conversation.

The Altar of the Dialog. The physical type of these three last figures - bearded, with an aquiline nose - is similar to the one represented on stele 3 and monument 63, and is a notable contrast with that of the central figure. However, these two physical types are sometimes found together on some of these Olmeca sculptures which may be classified as belonging to a later period. It is worth noting that, as can be observed in a later period Olmeca relief from Chalcatzingo, Morelos, one of the characters carved on the left side of the altar wears a bearded mask on the back of his head, but we have no knowledge as to the meaning of this detail.

Altar 2. Altar 2 of La Venta. Measurements: height 99 cm (39 in), width 134 cm (53 in), thickness 129 cm (51 in). This sculpture was found in 1925, near the Great Pyramid and altar 3. Its state of destruction prevents us from knowing what the top was like, but, the same as the other altars, it has a central niche in which there is a seated personage. The figure was represented richly garbed with a tall coif and carrying on his knees what would be the silhouette of a child. We should note that the presence of children in Olmeca religious art was very common; they are an outstanding theme in the iconography which, as we shall see, achieves its most notable expression in altar 5.

The Young Goddess. Stela 1 of La Venta. Measurements: height 251 cm (99 in), width 79 cm (31 in), thickness 66 cm (26 in). Sculpture found in 1925 in the patio of unit A. The steles are sculptures that have a representation on the front of a scene in high or bas-relief or else of a person which in the present case exceptionally appears in a round bulk. These steles may have been made to commemorate a ceremony. In prehispanic México, it was the Olmeca culture that set a pattern to be followed in manufacturing this kind of pieces, which was later recreated by other groups such as the Mayas and the Zapotecas. This stele shows one of the few representations of a feminine figure in Olmeca art. The woman in the niche expresses the same idea as the seated personages on the altars; they are all emerging from the entrails of the earth, represented by the fauces of a jaguar whose features are carved on the top part of the sculpture. We can observe the rigid figure facing forward, naked from the waist up, wearing a small skirt consisting of several strips and, with the exception of a coif and ear hoops, no other adornment.

Jaguar. The jaguar (Panthera onca) is a large cat species and the only living member of the genus Panthera native to the Americas. The jaguar is an animal with a prominent association and appearance in the cultures and belief systems of pre-Columbian Mesoamerican societies in the New World, similar to the lion and tiger in the Old World. Quick, agile, and powerful enough to take down the largest prey in the jungle, the jaguar is the biggest felid in Central or South America, and one of the most efficient and aggressive predators. Endowed with a spotted coat and well-adapted for the jungle, hunting either in the trees or water, making it one of the few felines tolerant of water, the jaguar was, and remains, revered among the Indigenous Americans who live closely with the jaguar. All major Mesoamerican civilizations prominently featured a jaguar god, and for many, such as the Olmec, the jaguar was an important part of religious practice. For those who resided in or near the tropical jungle, the jaguar was well known and became incorporated into the lives of the inhabitants. The jaguar's formidable size, reputation as a predator, and its evolved capacities to survive in the jungle made it an animal to be revered. The Olmec and the Maya witnessed this animal's habits, adopting the jaguar as an authoritative and martial symbol, and incorporated the animal into their mythology. The jaguar stands today, as it did in the past, as an important symbol in the lives of those who coexist with this feline. See more at Jaguars in Mesoamerican cultures - Wikipedia.

Black panther. A black panther is the melanistic colour variant of the leopard (Panthera pardus) and the jaguar (Panthera onca). Black panthers of both species have excess black pigments, but their typical rosettes are also present. They have been documented mostly in tropical forests, with black leopards in Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Thailand, Peninsular Malaysia and Java, and black jaguars of the Americas in Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Brazil and Paraguay. Melanism is caused by a recessive allele in the leopard, and by a dominant allele in the jaguar.

Crocodiles. Crocodiles (family Crocodylidae) or true crocodiles are large semiaquatic reptiles that live throughout the tropics in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Australia. Morelet's crocodile (Crocodylus moreletii), also known as the Mexican crocodile or Belize crocodile, is a modest-sized crocodilian found only in fresh waters of the Atlantic regions of Mexico, Belize and Guatemala. It usually grows to about 3 metres (10 ft) in length.

Turtles. Turtles are an order of reptiles known as Testudines, characterized by a special shell developed mainly from their ribs. Turtles are widely distributed across the world's continents, oceans, and islands with terrestrial, fully aquatic, and semi-aquatic species. Some cultures have used turtle shells to make music: Native American shamans made them into ceremonial rattles, while Aztecs, Mayas, and Mixtecs made ayotl drums.

Leaving La Venta Park Museum.

Sources

• La Venta - Wikipedia
• La Venta - Lugares INAH
• Archeological Guide of the Park-Museum of "La Venta"

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