Posted on 07/29/2011 9:25:44 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
A group of Mexican archaeologists have discovered a 1.5 ton stone relief from the Olmec culture created more than 2,800 years ago, the National Institute of Archaeology and History, or INAH, said.
The discovery was made at the archaeological site of Chalcatzingo in Morelos state, "the only pre-Columbian site known in central Mexico with large bas-reliefs," INAH said in a communique.
The work -- standing more than 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall -- was discovered in late April on the north slope of Chalcatzingo as archaeologists were building a containing wall and protective roofs for the other monoliths in the area.
Sculpted on the stone are three cats sitting in profile, looking west and surrounded by great scroll decorations.
The relief was found broken in 11 pieces, which the experts spent May and June restoring, so that only now is it possible "to admire the triad of felines in their entirety," INAH said.
Since the first explorations there in the 1930s, some 41 monuments have been discovered in Chalcatzingo up to now, four of which have cat figures, animals feared and venerated by the Olmecs, who inhabited the area between the years 800-500 B.C., a period known as the Middle Pre-Classical.
Experts believe that the Olmecs, the first civilization in the Americas to leave monumental architecture and sculptures, built a frieze all along the Chalcatzingo hill.
The Olmec civilization flourished between 1800 B.C. and A.D. 400 in the region occupied today by the states of Veracruz and Tabasco.
(Excerpt) Read more at laht.com ...
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GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. |
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Nephite *cough* archeology ping.
Or are these Jaguars?
It is always frustrating to me when a newspaper or journal reports on something like this and they do not include a picture. ARRRRG!
If those are their house pets I’m goin’ back in my own house!
Thank You! Those are not pets!
This is amusing if you follow the online comic Wapsi Square. It is about a girl museum archeologist in Minneapolis, surrounded by supernatural events and beings, most of whom look like young women, but with vast powers.
You do have to start from the beginning. Sometimes adult themed.
The ‘cats’ they revered and feared were a bit larger than the typical house cat. They were panthers or jaguars, or whatever large feline that was in the jungles at the time.
The one on the left looks a lot like Garfield, though.
square teeth??? oh well, bet they’d give the viking kitties some pause...
*snort*
Look sort of like Honey Badgers.
PRAISE Moroni!!
The BoM is TRUE!!!!
When I see those images, I find similarities with Indian, Asian, and Pacific NW native Indian art.
Thanks yefragetuwrabrumuy.
Jaguars, and on occasion it was vice versa. “Mmmm, Purrrr, Olmec buffet...”
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