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Mesoamerican Wonders in 6-8 Days. Owned by: Jessica Thornberry, Tyra Holliday, Shilpa Jose, Rachel Cherian. Itinerary. JUNE 4: Go to Honduras and El Salvador Visit Olmec’s society. See stone human heads, large pyramids, and art. JUNE 7: Go to Guatemala (highlands)
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Mesoamerican Wonders in 6-8 Days Owned by: Jessica Thornberry, Tyra Holliday, Shilpa Jose, Rachel Cherian
Itinerary • JUNE 4: Go to Honduras and El Salvador Visit Olmec’s society. See stone human heads, large pyramids, and art. • JUNE 7: Go to Guatemala (highlands) Visit Mayan Society. Visit Tikal, ChichénItzá.
Itinerary • JUNE 9:Go to Mexico (highlands) Visit Teotihuacan society. Climb Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, see paintings, orange pottery, and markets.
Olmec Society • The name Olmec means “rubber people” in Nahuatl (Aztec language). • The Olmecs carved large stones in the shape of important people’s heads. • Heads have been found in La Venta, San Lorenzo, and TresZapotez (all in Mexico) • Historians believe that the heads represented warriors or chieftain leaders. • The first head was found in 1862. • The largest head was found in San Lorenzo which weighed 40 tons.
Olmec Pyramids • The Olmecs built a pyramid in La Venta. • La Venta is 2 square miles, but considered a highly populated area. • Major structure is a pyramid with connecting buildings. • Has a distinguishable cone-shaped top. • Historians believe that the Olmecans were trying to build a volcano. • Volcanoes at Los Tuxtlas (100 kilometers away) • Historians theorize that Los Tuxtlas was the original homeland of the Olmecans and the people wanted a way to remember their homeland.
Olmec Art • Jade sculptures. • Pottery with intricate designs. • Baby figurines. • Jade jewelry • Sculptures of jaguars
Mayan Society • Lived mostly in the Guatemalan Highlands; 300B.C- 900C.E • Tikal was the political center of the society. • Comprises of 222 square miles of jungle around the center • Took University of Pennsylvania 13 years to unearth 10 miles. • Abruptly ended by the Mayans. • Temple IV: tallest structure in Tikal (230.98 feet tall) • Wooden ladders • Historians believe that Yax Kin (ruler) is buried here. • Estimate that 250,000 cubic yards of stone were needed to build.
ChichénItzá • Translates into “Mouth of Itza Tribe” • Believed to be one of the most powerful cities of the Maya. • Famous pyramid: El Castillo • Top 7 Wonders of the World. • 79ft. Tall. • Famous for snake-like phenomenon that happens at the Spring and Fall Equinoxes • Could’ve been used to track the seasons. • Marked equinoxes and solstices.
Pyramids of the Sun and Moon • Focal points of the city’s urban layout. • Pyramid of the Moon • Completed around 250A.D • Located at end of Street of the Dead • Tomb found near base of pyramid • Male skeleton and sacrificed animal skeleton • Pyramid of the Sun • Completed around 200A.D • 63 meters tall • 215 meters square • Tunnel leading to chambers under the pyramid. • Believed to be used for fire and water rituals
Teotihuacan Art • Murals • Painted on plaster. • Depictions of animals • Way of pictographic communication • People respected their artwork. • Well preserved • Largest available data source
Bibliography • "Giant Stone Heads of Mexico." Giant Stone Heads of Mexico. Ancient Wisdom, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicostoneheads.htm>. • "La Venta, Mexico." La Venta, Mexico. AncientWisdom, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.ancient-wisdom.co.uk/mexicolaventa.htm>. • The Olmecs: A Mesoamerican Wonder." The Olmecs: A Mesoamerican Wonder. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://facweb.stvincent.edu/academics/religiousstu/writings/lavin1.htm>. • “Olmec Art." Olmec Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.aaanativearts.com/ancient-indians/olmec-art.htm>. • General Information on Tikal National Park." Tikal National Park. Tikal National Park, n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.tikalpark.com/generalinfo.htm>. • "Ancient Observatories: ChichénItzá." Ancient Observatories: ChichénItzá. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.exploratorium.edu/ancientobs/chichen/HTML/castillo.html>. • Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot2/hd_teot2.htm (October 2001) • Department of Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. "Teotihuacan: Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon". In Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/teot2/hd_teot2.htm (October 2001) • "Teotihuacan Mural Art." Teotihuacan Mural Art. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Sept. 2012. <http://www.jqjacobs.net/mesoamerica/teo_murals.html>.