September 27, 2015
France Returns Important 900 BCE Olmec Mural Stolen from Mexico
An important Olmec bas-relief column dated to 900 BCE that was stolen from a site in Chiapas, Mexico between 1968-1972 has been found in France, and will be returned to Mexico. Some archaeologists believe the carving is of a priest. The French are not saying how they found the stolen piece. (I believe that the carving represents an Olmec conqueror. All of the iconography on the column indicates a military posture. The personage has a bird of prey face mask, a huge cape and boots, he is holding a huger ruler bar with the world tree iconography on it. He is holding an atlatl behind his back. On my Olmec Art page, you will see this piece and another one very similar to it from another part of the Olmec external realm. He is also wearing a bird of prey mask, carrying a large ruler bar, and has the fancy handle of an atlatl over his shoulder. In both instances, the weapon is carefully placed in a pose where the weapon is not being brandished. In both instances, the personages are wearing giant belts, with the Xoc personage having the “Kan Cross” symbol on his belt. At the site of Chalcatzingo, there is a bas relief of a human sacrifice. The warriors carrying out the sacrifice have bird of prey face masks, and huge belts, and carry decapitation weapons to carry out an execution of a tied up victim. Again, lending itself to the idea that these personages are military.)
My Olmec art page is at;
Mike Ruggeri's Olmec Art Portfolio
http://bit.ly/1MxliwD
(click on the Olmec murals folder)
Phys.org has the short report here;
http://phys.org/news/2015-09-ancient-stolen-decades-mexico-france.html
Mike Ruggeri’s Olmecs
http://mikeruggerisolmecs.tumblr.com
