The Ancient Olmec Were So Big-Headed

Olmec art, Colossal stone head of a warrior. Source: (Photo by De Agostini via Getty Images/De Agostini via Getty Images)

Easter Island and Mount Rushmore don’t have monopolies on giant, carved stone heads. The ancient Olmec people of Mexico were carving enormous, eight-ton heads long before the Rapa Nui of Easter Island and Gutzon Borglum of Mount Rushmore ever lifted a chisel. Archaeologists are still baffled by the giant Olmec heads. Here’s what they know so far.