Olmec figurine
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© George and Audrey DeLange.
This article on the Olmec figurine describes a number of archetypical figurines produced by the Formative Period inhabitants of Mesoamerica. While many of these figurines may or may not have been produced directly by the Olmec people, they bear the hallmarks and motifs of Olmec culture.
These figurines include not only the more numerous figurines made from terracotta, but those carved from jade, serpentine, nephrite, basalt, and other minerals and stones.
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[edit] Baby-face figurines
The "baby-face" figurine is a unique marker of Olmec culture. These small hollow ceramic figurines are easily recognized by the chubby body, the baby-like face, downturned mouth, and the slit-like slanting eyes. They are hollow ceramics, usually white-slipped, and have been consistently found in all sites showing Olmec influence.[1] Given the sheer numbers of baby-face figurines unearthed, they undoubtedly fulfilled some special role in the Olmec culture. However, what they represented is not known.
Compare baby-face figurines here, here, and here, and here.
Some hollow-ware figurines combine the seated, pudgy "baby-face" body with a adult, deformed head. See photo below, as well as here and here).
[edit] Elongated man
Another common style is the "elongated man". These standing figurines are generally often carved from jade, and can be characterized by their thin limbs and their elongated, bald, flat-topped heads, and downturned mouths. Another example can be seen here, and here, here, and here.
It has been theorized that the elongated, flat-topped heads are reflective of the practice of artificial cranial deformation, as found in the Tlatilco burials of the same period or among the Maya of a later era. No direct evidence of this practice has been found in the Olmec heartland, however.
[edit] Offering 4 at La Venta
At the La Venta archaeological site, archaeologists found what they subsequently named Offering 4. These figurines had been ritually buried in a deep, narrow hole, and covered over with three layers of clay. There is also evidence that they had previously been dug up and re-covered.
Offering 4 consists of sixteen male figurines positioned in a semi-circle in front of six jade celts. Two of the figurines were made from jade, thirteen from serpentine, and one of reddish granite. This granite figurine one was positioned with its back to the celts, facing the others. All of the figurines had similar classic Olmec features including bald elongated heads. They had small holes for earrings, their legs were slightly bent, and they were undecorated -- unusual if the figurines were gods or deities. Here's another view of Offering 4
Interpretations abound. Perhaps this particular formation represents a council of some sort -- the fifteen other figurines seem to be listening to the red granite one, with the celts forming a backdrop. To the right of the red granite figurine, there seems be a line of three, which appear to be filing past him. Another researcher has suggested that the granite figure is an initiate.
As the name implies, Offering 4 is one of many ritual burials uncovered at La Venta, including the four Massive Offerings and four mosiacs representing stylized jaguar masks. Why such works would be buried continues to generate much speculation.
[edit] Were-jaguars
The were-jaguar is a common subject of Olmec artifacts, and was carved into the surfaces of stelae and altars, on celts and votive axes, as well as being the subject of figurines. Characteristics of the were-jaguar include the downturned mouth, slit-like or almond eyes, and a cleft head.
Figurines labelled as were-jaguar show a much wider variety of styles and subjects than the baby-face or standing man figurines. The subjects can range from human-like figurines to those that are almost completely jaguar. Likewise, there are several were-jaguar figurines where the subject appears to be in a stage of transformation.
[edit] Transformation figurines
In addition to the were-jaguars, many other Olmec figurines combined human and animal features, including this were-eagle. Although figurines showing such combinations of features are generally termed "transformation figures", some researchers argue that they represent humans in animal masks or animal suits. Compare the transformation figurines here, and here.
[edit] Naturalistic figurines
Despite the many stylised figurines, Olmec-period artisans and artist also portrayed humans very naturalistically, as in this bust and the figurine above, nicknamed "the wrestler".
[edit] Fetal style figurines
Several Olmec-period "crouching" figurines seem to resemble human fetuses. Compare the figurine on the right with this and this). In their 1999 article, Carolyn Tate and Gordon Bendersky analysed head-to-body ratios and concluded that these figurines are naturalistic sculptures of fetuses, and discuss the possibility of infanticide and infant sacrifice.[2]
[edit] Summary
Figurines from Formative Period show a consistency of style and subject throughout nearly all of Mesoamerica. While the extent of Olmec control over the areas beyond their heartland is not yet known, Olmec motifs, styles, and subjects were widespread in the centuries from 1000 to 500 BCE.
[edit] Notes
[edit] References
- Bailey, Douglass. (2005). Prehistoric Figurines: Representation and Corporeality in the Neolithic. Routledge Publishers. ISBN 0-415-33152-8
- Scott, Sue (2000), "Figurines, Terracotta", in Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America, Evans, Susan, ed., Taylor & Francis.
- Tate, Carolyn and Bendersky, Gordon, "Olmec Sculptures of the Human Fetus" in Perspectives in Biology and Medicine, Spring 1999, pp. 1-20.(abridged version online).
[edit] Gallery
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