Final Flashcards
What was San Lorenzo in the Olmec period?
Began as a small village, with early occupations around 1500 BCE.
900 BC, San Lorenzo established as first city in Mesoamerica.
What was San Lorenzo described as?
San Lorenzo described as a Regal-Ritual City:
An urban centre that had highly developed ritual functions, but modest populations, relatively weak & decentralized rulership; limited economic function.
What were the sculptures in the San Lorenzo area?
Excavations revealed a series of large sculptures, visible from the river,
probably to demonstrate the power of the local rulers.
The sculpture consisted of two identical kneeling human twins & two jaguars, recalling the “Hero Twins” of mythology
Describe the colossal heads
It appears that at least 10 colossal heads and several thrones were present in the main plateau area of the site, forming lines, and dating to the height of occupation.
The heads appear to be wearing helmets, thought to relate to the ritual ball game played in the area.
The colossal heads are currently believed to have depicted living or recently deceased kings – and thus actual people rather than gods or other mythical figures.
It is argued that the lines of heads and thrones would have formed a “royal procession” for visitors
What was the cause of the San Lorenzo collapse?
The eventual collapse of this site appears to have been linked to a freshwater spring in the area either drying up, or being insufficient to cope with such a large population.
Other factors that may have contributed include warfare, invasion, economic decline & the emergence of other centres.
What was La Venta?
One of the most important art production centers in early Mesoamerica.
Some ninety monumental works known from La Venta, including Colossal Heads, sculptures-in-the-round, altars, & stelae, all integrated into a vast ceremonial center.
Explain the monumental architecture at La Venta
Great Pyramid is city centre point.
Ceremonial core of the city featured nine distinct groups of monumental earthen pyramids.
These mound groups were originally platforms for temples, administrative buildings, & elite residences.
Arrangement suggests that Mesoamericans had already devised a system of urban planning that paired mass & space early on.
Explain the Great Pyramid of La Venta
Center of ancient La Venta is the massive earthen mound known as the Great Pyramid.
it is the largest architectural construction at the site, & one of the earliest known Mesoamerican pyramids.
Original shape of the Great Pyramid unclear.
Today the pyramid appears as a flat-topped conical mass with undulating sides.
Recent work suggests the pyramid was originally built a rectangle (slightly longer north to south) with
broadly rounded corners.
Pyramid situated on a rectangular platform
Why is the Altar 4 and the San Lorenzo monument similar?
La Venta Altar 4 (above) & San Lorenzo Monument 14 (below), are remarkably alike in scale, style, technique, & iconography.
It could be argued that these are the work of the same master artist & his atelier [studio or workshop].
Olmec master artists were likely itinerant to some degree, traveling among the various Olmec centers for commissions.
The approach used in carving these thrones follows that of the Colossal Heads.
Explain the Altars
Both altars feature a front side occupied by seated figures leaning forward with their heads extending out from niche-like openings as they reach forward to grasp a rope-like form along the base of the altar.
As they occupy niches, presumably these figures depict rulers, or important lineage ancestors.
On Altar 4, a female figure is preserved on the proper right side.
The extended left arm is overlapped by the twisted “rope” held by the niche figure.
The right arm is folded across her chest, covering her breasts, & the right hand is shown palm-out with all but the index finger closed over the palm.
Suchapointinggesturedirectstheviewer back to the niche figure, in whose direction the lady faces
Explain Complex A of La Venta
Complex A produced numerous caches & offerings, including Massive Offerings, Small Offerings, & Pavements or Mosaic Masks.
Offering 4 consists of 16 human figures & 6 celts.
It is thought to depict a ritual or court activity of unknown nature.
The celts appear to have images etched into them.
Figurines appear to have ear-flares, & have undergone intentional cranial deformation (head binding) as infants.
Why is the mosaic floors of La Venta controversial?
It is argued by some to represent a highly stylized were-jaguar (half human-half jaguar).
Others argue that it is simply abstract.
Part of the problem: we have no idea which side is the top.
What do Monument 1 and Stela 1 of La Venta demonstrate?
Stela 1 & Monument 1 provide good examples of Olmec stone working techniques.
What was “Olmec were jaguar”? What is it actually thought to be?
The were-jaguar motif “consists of a round baby-like face, often with a cleft forehead, characterized by an open mouth with f leshy lips turned down at the corners and canine teeth sometimes shown as fangs” (Murdy 1981:861-862).
the were-jaguar motif may actually represent a real congenital condition.
Explain the “mother culture” of Olmecs and the “sister culture”
1940s: Olmec seen as the “mother culture”.
First civilization of Mesoamerica.
Dominated Formative period culture & interregional relations.
Established religious and political principles that define Mesoamerican tradition through Time.
1960s: Olmec considered “sister culture.”
Many symbols and artifacts considered Olmec actually develop first in outside regions, such as the Valley of Oaxaca and then enter the Olmec region.
What did LiDAR show?
LiDAR survey suggests a large number of previously unknown cities utilized the same
basic layout as La Venta & other Olmec centres.
May indicate cultural connections far more widespread than ever previously suggested.
What was the Calendar system of Monté Alban?
Center provides clear evidence for both a system of writing & a calendar; script has not been translated at this time.
Calendar appears similar to all others used in Mesoamerica, with 2 interlocked cycles:
One: a 260-day cycle, thought to correspond to the agricultural cycle.
Second:a365-daylunarcycle.
Together these form a 52-year cycle, typical of all Mesoamerican cultures
Explain Teotihuacan
First metropolis of the Americas.
Grew into the largest city in the Americas & the sixth-largest in the world in its time.
Teotihuacán means “place where the gods were born;” named by the Aztecs, who arrived in the Valley of Mexico some five hundred years after Teotihuacán was abandoned.
What was the Avenue of the dead?
Avenue of the Dead derived from the Aztec “Miccaotli,” or “Way of the Dead.”
Based on Aztec belief that ancient Teotihuacanos had enshrined the mummy bundles of their ancestors in the temples that once lined the plazas along the route.
No evidence for this behaviour.
What was the Pyramid of the Sun?
First major construction in Teotihuacán.
Pyramid raised in stages, beginning in the Late Preclassic period.
The pyramid of the sun and the moon named after?
The Pyramids of the Sun & the Moon are explicitly named in Aztec legends.
Structures may actually have been dedicated to these cosmic entities.
What is the significance of constructing a tunnel below the Pyramid of the sun in Teotihuacán?
It is suggested that the significance of constructing a tunnel below the Pyramid of the sun was utilized for the placement of special deposits. Moreover, potentially a location where high-status individuals were buried.
Explain the Pyramid of the moon
Not as large as the Pyramid of the Sun, but still massive.
The peak of the Pyramid of the Moon is identical to the Pyramid of the Sun because it was built on higher ground.
Four-level, stepped platform
What is the talud-tablero architecture? Where does this distinct form appear to originate?
The talud is the sloping wall and the tablero is a rectangular panel. This distinct form originates in the Pyramids of the Sun & Moon.
Why do archeologists believe that the massive building 4 construction of the Pyramid of the Moon – along with the presence of human and animal sacrifices – indicates a change in state power and social control?
a. This is believed because the orientation of Building 4 closely approximates visible Teotihuacán city-grid system. Additionally, it suggests that the grid is complete by Building 4’s construction. Therefore, this suggests state power sufficiently established & centralized to control construction projects at city scale. The social control component comes as a result of Burial 2, suggesting that symbolic proclamation of institutionalized rule in close association with state military apparatus.
b. The substantial enlargement reflects the political power of the state and the people running it. They have enough social power to adhere to this construction.
How were Teotihuacán murals and frescos created?
Murals and frescos were created by using stencils into red painted walls.
From the perspective of construction. How does the Temple of Quetzalcoatl differ from the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon?
The temple of Quetzalcoatl had substantially more architectural components such as the taluds and tableros being decorated with high & low relief friezes that continued all around the four sides. There were smaller scales taluds in the temple of Quetzalcoatl were decorated with profile images of Quetzalcoatl. There were variations in colour & texture of the stone. The pyramid of the sun and moon did not have these architectural components involved and were simply pyramids.
What is another name for the Temple of Quetzalcoatl?
Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl or Feathered Serpent.
What is the significance of finding 260 human sacrificial victims (in groups of 18 individuals) in the Temple of Quetzalcoatl?
The significance of finding 260 human sacrificial victims in groups of 18 individuals is that the number 18 corresponds to the number of 20-day months in the calendar year.
