Frans Blom discovers La Venta, first major Olmec site in 1925. In 1924, Tulane University organized the first expedition to explore Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz Frans Blom, a Danish explorer, led the expedition and arrived in Veracruz in early March 1925 Blom discovered La Venta Monument 1 (colossal head) partially buried near the Great Pyramid
In 1925, Danish explorer Frans (Franz) Blom led Tulane's first expedition to southeastern Mexico, discovering La Venta Monument 1 (a colossal head) buried near the Great Pyramid. The pyramid contains 200,000+ tons of earth and may be North America's oldest. They also found the oldest known feathered serpent depiction and materials imported from 100-200 km away.
Key Facts
- In 1924, Tulane University organized the first expedition to explore Chiapas, Tabasco, and Veracruz
- Frans Blom, a Danish explorer, led the expedition and arrived in Veracruz in early March 1925
- Blom discovered La Venta Monument 1 (colossal head) partially buried near the Great Pyramid
- The Great Pyramid at La Venta contains over 200,000 tons of earth and fill
- Archaeologists believe La Venta's pyramid may be North America's oldest
- Discovered megalithic altar stones and the oldest known depiction of the feathered serpent in history
- Found five mysteriously buried caches of serpentine stone arranged in detailed patterns
- Materials were imported from 100-200 km away from the volcanic Tuxtla Mountains and Maya jungles of Guatemala
Related site: La Venta — view location, images, and history on the Ancient Nerds map.
Source: The First Explorers of the Olmecs: A Truly Lost Civilization by Luke Caverns