Architecture

Olmec cities were famous for their massive stone sculptures, even though the region had almost no stone nearby. Their most famous creations are the colossal heads, carved from volcanic basalt. Some of these heads are taller than a person and weigh 20–40 tons. Each head has a unique face, with broad noses, full lips, and helmet-like headdresses, which may have shown different chiefs or lineages.

One of the biggest mysteries is how they moved these stones from mountains 60–120 km away, since the Olmecs had no wheels or horses. Many experts think they used the river system and floated the giant stones on rafts. These heads were probably once brightly painted, meaning Olmec cities might have been full of colorful artwork.

Only 16 colossal heads have been found — there may be more hiding under the jungle.

Many experts also believe the Olmecs may have started the earliest building stages of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. This pyramid, located in central Mexico, is the largest pyramid in the world by volume. Later civilizations, like the Maya and Aztecs, added more layers to it over hundreds of years. The Olmecs were some of the first master builders in Mesoamerica, and their early platforms and earth mounds likely inspired this giant structure. This shows that the Olmecs were not only artists, but also powerful engineers whose ideas shaped later civilizations.