Las Limas Monument 1 facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Las Limas Monument 1 |
|
|---|---|
At highest resolution, the shallow incisions on the shoulders, legs, and face can be clearly seen
|
|
| Material | Greenstone |
| Height | 55 cm (22 in) |
| Created | Middle Formative Period (1000 BCE – 600 BCE) |
| Discovered | 1965 near Jesús Carranza, Veracruz, Mexico |
| Present location | Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, Veracruz |
| Culture | Olmec |
Las Limas Monument 1, also called the Las Limas figure or the Señor de las Limas, is a special ancient statue. It is made from a type of green stone and stands about 55 centimeters (22 inches) tall. The statue shows a young person holding a limp baby. This baby looks like a mix between a human and a jaguar, which is often called a "were-jaguar."
This important statue was found in the State of Veracruz, Mexico. This area is known as the Olmec heartland, where the ancient Olmec civilization lived. The statue is famous because it has carvings on it that show important Olmec gods or spirits. It is the biggest known sculpture made from greenstone.
Discovering the Olmec Statue
This statue is about 55 centimeters (22 inches) tall and 42 centimeters (17 inches) wide. It weighs around 60 kilograms (132 pounds). Experts believe it was carved a very long time ago, between 1000 and 600 BCE. This time is known as the Middle Formative Period.
How it was Found
The statue was discovered in 1965 near a town called Jesús Carranza, Veracruz. Two local children, Rosa and Severiano Paschal Manuel, found it. They dug it out of the ground and took it to their home nearby.
The family thought it was very special and called it "La Virgen de las Limas." They even set up a small altar for it in their home.
Moving to a Museum
News of the statue quickly reached archaeologists in Xalapa. They wanted to move the sculpture to the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology. This museum is in Veracruz.
The archaeologists promised to keep the statue on display and to build a local school for the community. After these promises, the sculpture was moved to the museum.
A Famous Theft
Five years later, in October 1970, something surprising happened. The Las Limas statue was stolen from the museum! It was later found in a motel room in San Antonio, Texas.
The statue was so famous that it was too well-known to be sold secretly. Because of its fame, it was returned to the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology. There, it is still on display for everyone to see and learn about.
See also
In Spanish: Señor de Las Limas para niños
