The Olmec Colossal Heads are a series of 17 monumental stone sculptures that were created by the ancient Olmec civilization of Mesoamerica. The heads were carved from basalt and range in size from 4 to 11 feet in height. They are thought to have been created between
The Olmec colossal heads are stone representations of human heads sculpted from large basalt boulders. They range in height from 1.17 to 3.4 metres. The heads date from at least 900 BCE and are a distinctive feature of the Olmec civilization of ancient Mesoamerica. All portray mature individuals with fleshy cheeks, flat noses, and slightly-crossed eyes; their physical characteristics correspond to a type that is still common among the inhabitants of Tabasco and Veracruz. The backs of the monuments are often flat.