Replica of San Lorenzo Monument 1
historical marker
In Austin, Travis County, Texas, stands a historical marker for the Replica of San Lorenzo Monument 1. This marker was erected in 2008. The sculpture is an exact copy of an Olmec colossal head, originally discovered at the ancient site of San Lorenzo in Veracruz, Mexico. The Olmec culture, one of the earliest major Mesoamerican civilizations, flourished in southern Mexico from approximately 1500 to 400 BCE. The original San Lorenzo Monument 1 is a significant work of art, carved from a single basalt boulder. It stands about 2.84 meters, or 9.3 feet, tall and weighs approximately 25 tons. These colossal heads are believed to represent Olmec rulers. The 18-ton replica in Austin was a gift from the Universidad Veracruzana to the Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies in 2008. This gift recognized the close ties between the peoples of the United States and Mexico. The replica serves to highlight the historical and cultural connections between these regions.