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Ancient Olmec heads damaged
Source: Agencies |
January 14, 2009, Wednesday
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A GROUP performing a ritual poured grape juice, oil and other liquids over four Olmec "colossal head" stone sculptures, badly damaging some of Mexico's most prized archaeological relics, authorities said on Monday.
Experts will try to remove the stains from the porous stone using special solvents but warn the treatments could be time-consuming and costly, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement.
Two people were detained for damaging the pre-Hispanic sculptures, which are displayed in the La Venta park in the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco, the institute said. It did not give details on the group or what ritual they were trying to perform.
Four of the thick-lipped, glowering carved heads and 19 other Olmec carvings were heavily stained by the suspects on Sunday.
"This act was carried out by persons performing an apparent ritual," the institute said. "As part of the 'ceremony,' they poured oil, grape juice, salt water and other substances" over the heads, a tomb, altars and other structures.
The artifacts are displayed in an open-air setting meant to replicate the jungle region in which the Olmec culture flourished about 3,200 years ago.
The Olmecs are often referred to as the "mother culture" of the region that later saw the rise of the Mayas and Aztecs. The colossal stone heads are considered the most emblematic pieces of their art.
Experts will try to remove the stains from the porous stone using special solvents but warn the treatments could be time-consuming and costly, Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement.
Two people were detained for damaging the pre-Hispanic sculptures, which are displayed in the La Venta park in the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco, the institute said. It did not give details on the group or what ritual they were trying to perform.
Four of the thick-lipped, glowering carved heads and 19 other Olmec carvings were heavily stained by the suspects on Sunday.
"This act was carried out by persons performing an apparent ritual," the institute said. "As part of the 'ceremony,' they poured oil, grape juice, salt water and other substances" over the heads, a tomb, altars and other structures.
The artifacts are displayed in an open-air setting meant to replicate the jungle region in which the Olmec culture flourished about 3,200 years ago.
The Olmecs are often referred to as the "mother culture" of the region that later saw the rise of the Mayas and Aztecs. The colossal stone heads are considered the most emblematic pieces of their art.
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