They are massive and stalwart. Visitors stand taller in their presence. The ancient Olmec head sculptures on the Gulf Coast of Mexico are something to behold, whether you encounter them in their natural environments or in museums thousands of miles away. Carved from stone boulders, it’s estimated that the heads were created before 900 BC. They indicate a presence of Africans among the Mesoamericans of ancient Mexico, considered the western hemisphere’s first civilization. Those indigenous people were renowned in ancient civilization for their peaceful and sophisticated society, and for mastery of arts and sciences.
Dr. Runoko Rashidi, extensively traveled scholar and historian, has written about the Olmec heads. Facilitator of many great excursions that explore African presence throughout the world, Rashidi guides tour participants to a greater understanding of the historical influence of Africans around the globe. For a real treat, click the link below to join one of Rashidi’s tours and experience a 20-minute visit to an Olmec head exhibit at the Museum of Anthropology in Xapala, Mexico.