Photos

A total of four, colossal, basalt heads were found at La Venta. In total, at all Olmec sites, seventeen have been found. Three of them, numbers two, three and four were found at the entrance to the small but apparently sacred Complex A. The three were aligned on a west-east axis, and interesting, facing the north. This has led to the suggestion that access to La Venta may have been from the north, closer to the Gulf of Mexico. Head #4 is to the west, and it is argued that he depicts a governor/warrior. The helmet bears a claw, possibly of the harpy eagle that possesses excellent nocturnal eyesight. A date of 700 - 600 BC for the sculpture has been advanced. These days the three heads face the south, and are not originals.

Head #1 sits outside the entrance to the site museum and there is another replica of #1 to be found in the grass to the south of the large pyramid.