In Search of the Olmec Heads: Mexico City’s Museum of Anthropology

28 Aug

Two experiences I have long wanted to tick off my bucket list are seeing the Olmec heads in person and visiting Mexico City’s Museo de Antropología (Museum of Anthropology).

For years I’ve been fascinated by Pre-Columbian Mexico. In my IB Extended Essay (the International Baccalaureate equivalent of an EPQ), I explored the Tlaxcalan-Spanish alliance in the fall of the Aztec Empire. Later, at University, I researched the reception of Mesoamerican plants in Renaissance Italy—an intersection of two histories I love.

I first came across the Olmec heads while reading Graham Hancock’s Fingerprints of the Gods, where he alludes to an alternative history that predates even the civilisations we think of as most ancient. The Olmec heads are stone-carved sculptures that equate the size of a human. Supposedly ranging in size from approximately one-and-a-half metres to three metres. Like the Mayan temples or Egyptian pyramids, their creation remains shrouded in mystery.

The Olmecs were a pre-Aztec, pre-Mayan civilisation in Mesoamerica, in what is now modern-day Mexico. This is a country of wonder, magic, and infinite colour, and its capital’s Anthropological Museum reflects exactly that. From turquoise Aztec jewellery to the monumental Aztec calendar and haunting yet captivating sacrificial tables, the museum offers an unforgettable experience.

Although London has its grand institutions, nothing compares to the otherworldly aura of the artefacts on display here. History lovers will especially appreciate the museum’s chronological layout. But beware, it is easy to be overwhelmed by its richness. If you do not have at least three hours to spare, it is best to revisit and savour it over multiple trips. That is certainly what I plan to do on my next visit.