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Product Description
SEE MORE PRE-COLUMBIAN ARTIFACTS
Because it was the "first" Pre-Columbian culture of Mesoamerica, and venerated by, as well as an influence to so many later Pre-Columbian civilizations, objects from the mysterious Olmec Empire have a cult following amongst seasoned collectors. The sudden appearance of this highly developed culture, which produced the mysterious colossal helmeted stone heads, still puzzles scientists with many unanswered questions. Where did the Olmec come from and where they disappeared to, remains a mystery today. The Olmec were a legendary people even in ancient times, and were revered by many Pre-Columbian cultures that followed them. Their artifacts are in strong demand today just as much as they were by the ancient Mayan and Aztec people who often would dig up older Olmec objects and re-bury them in their temples.
This INCREDIBLE MUSEUM-CLASS Olmec drilled and polished graduated large stone bead necklace is A COMPLETE ORIGINAL JEWELRY NECKLACE AS ORIGINALLY WORN. Each hardstone bead was carved and drilled in identical multiple perspectives. The rounded rectangular forms vary from small to large and have been restrung on a temporary modern cord in the same graduated order as they were likely originally worn - small to largest to small again. While not made of jade, the cost and effort to make such an extremely time-consuming jewelry bead ensemble would have meant that only the ruling class Olmecs could have afforded such a piece.
The vast majority of all ancient bead jewelry is a composite of unrelated beads all assembled together to imitate complete jewelry but rarely do the beads look similar to prove they were an original set as found. The unusual identical style of each of these beads, as well as the identical stone type, and heavy mineral deposits on all beads including all interior surfaces, prove these are not only ancient, but truly are from the same single necklace and a complete original set. This is almost never the case with any ancient bead jewelry making this an offering rare beyond words.
The stone of each bead shows expert shaping and polishing, as well as ancient bi-conical drilling from multiple X-Y-Z axes on each bead. Ancient calcite and other mineral deposits are attached to the surfaces, and also in the drilled holes, providing irrefutable proof of its original condition and authenticity. The only complete and original Olmec bead jewelry ensemble we have handled or will ever offer!
HISTORY
The Olmec are best known for the enormous helmeted heads they left behind, each carved from of a single massive rock boulder. There is no known Pre-Columbian text that describes or mentions the reason or presence of these megalithic art structures and they have been the subject of much speculation. Some have theorized they were ballplayers but current belief is that they are portraits of rulers. Some have even described the heads as being effigies of ancient astronauts from another galaxy. How they were made or transported by such an early civilization, remains a complete mystery. The heads are all unique in their facial features but all have distinct, common elements in the helmet styles. The Olmecs can be considered the "mother culture" for all subsequent Pre-Columbian cultures of Mesoamerica.
In addition to their influence as the first civilization in Mesoamerica, the Olmecs are credited, or speculatively credited, with many "firsts", including the practice of bloodletting (and perhaps human sacrifice), writing and epigraphy. They are also credited with the invention of the concept of 'zero' and the Mesoamerican calendar, as well as the Mesoamerican ballgame and even perhaps, the compass.
The Olmec culture was first defined as an art style, and this continues to be the hallmark of the culture. Handworks were made in a variety of media such as jade, clay, basalt, and greenstone, for example. Many examples of Olmec art are surprisingly naturalistic. Other art expresses fantastic anthropomorphic creatures, often highly stylized, using an iconography reflective of a religious meaning. Their grasp of human anatomy and emotion is unrivaled by any other Pre-Columbian culture of Mesoamerica.
