The National Mall in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Colossal Head 4 (replica)
Olmec Culture
— San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Vera Cruz, 1200-900 B.C.E. —
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, November 22, 2010
1. Colossal Head 4 (replica) Marker
This portrait of an Olmec ruler is among 17 colossal heads known from one of the world’s great ancient civilizations. Without wheels or iron tools, the Olmec created spectacular monumental sculptures and ceremonial centers on Mexico’s Gulf Coast. In 1946, Smithsonian archaeologist Matthew W. Stirling excavated the 6-ton basalt original of this head, which is on display at the Museum of Anthropology in Xalapa, Veracruz.
Replica carved from welded volcanic ash by Ignacio Perez Solano and presented to the Smithsonian Institution by the government of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, and the Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, October 2001.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Anthropology & Archaeology • Arts, Letters, Music • Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1946.
Location. 38° 53.514′ N, 77° 1.598′ W. Marker is in Northwest Washington in Washington, District of Columbia. It is in The National Mall. Marker is on Constitution Avenue Northwest (U.S. 50) east of 12th Street Northwest, on the right when traveling east. Marker is on the grass at the northwest exterior of the Smithsonian Institution Museum of Natural History. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1000 Constitution Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20560, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers.
this page online
More about this marker. Included on the marker is a map of the Gulf of Mexico region, locating the “Olmec Culture.”
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. An identical marker stands a few feet away.
Also see . . .
1. Olmec. (Submitted on January 8, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
2. Alternative Origin Speculations. (Submitted on January 8, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland.)
Additional keywords. Mesoamerica; National Mall.
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, June 6, 2010
2. Colossal Head 4 (replica)
Photographed By Richard E. Miller, June 6, 2010
3. Colossal Head 4 (replica) and Marker
Photographed By Adam Margolis, July 19, 2013
4. Colossal Head 4 (replica) Marker
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 22, 2018
5. Closeup of plaque on Colossal Head 4 (replica)
(replica)
Olmec Culture
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan
Veracruz, Mexico, 1200 - 900 B.C.E.
Gift to the Smithsonian Institution from the
government of the state of Veracruz, Mexico, and the
Washington Center for Internships and
Academic Seminars
October 2001
Credits. This page was last revised on January 30, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 7, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. This page has been viewed 1,314 times since then and 69 times this year. Last updated on January 10, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 7, 2011, by Richard E. Miller of Oxon Hill, Maryland. 4. submitted on February 2, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. 5. submitted on January 22, 2018, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
