Ancient Americas: The Olmec Heads
The Ancients
History Hit
4.7 • 4.5K Ratings
🗓️ 21 August 2022
⏱️ 43 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
One of the the earliest Mesoamerican civilisations discovered so far - Olmec influences are visible throughout history. But who were they? And what do we actually know about them?
In the third episode of our 'Ancient Americas' series, Tristan is joined by Professor Jillian Mollenhauer to help shed some light on this mysterious civilisation. Taking a look at their culture, legacy, and their iconic colossal statues - what can we learn from the archaeology, and why were the Olmec so influential?
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's the Entrance on History Hit. |
| 0:13.3 | I'm Tristan Huseyur-Host and in today's podcast where we are continuing our Ancient America's |
| 0:19.2 | series on the Entrance through this August because it's such an incredible part of antiquity, |
| 0:25.6 | looking at these cultures from Mesoamerica, from South America. |
| 0:29.1 | Today we're still focusing in on Mesoamerica and a culture which is known as the Olmec culture. |
| 0:35.9 | They're renowned for various artifacts for their archaeology but in particular for their colossal |
| 0:42.5 | monumental stone heads, the Olmec heads. |
| 0:47.1 | So what do we know about these heads? |
| 0:48.8 | How were they created? |
| 0:50.4 | Where were the stone for these heads quarried from? |
| 0:53.9 | What do we know about the people who created them? |
| 0:56.9 | We hope to explain or we would delighted to get on the podcast Dr Jill Molanawa from Metropolitan |
| 1:01.6 | State University of Denver. |
| 1:03.6 | Jill, it was great to have her on the podcast for this topic and I hope you enjoy. |
| 1:08.4 | So that further ado to talk all about the Olmec heads, here's Jill. |
| 1:14.6 | Jill, it is great to have you on the podcast today. |
| 1:23.1 | Thank you so much for having me Tristan. |
| 1:25.2 | You're very welcome. |
| 1:26.0 | Let's delve straight into this topic. |
| 1:28.2 | Who were the Olmec? |
| 1:30.4 | I knew you were going to ask me this question and it is very difficult to answer because there |
| 1:36.6 | are so many different and yet correct answers that I could give. |
... |
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