What are the monumental stone heads created by the Olmec civilization in ancient Mesoamerica called?

Olmec colossal heads are the monumental stone heads created by the Olmec civilization in ancient Mesoamerica.

The Olmec made these sculptures between about 1500 and 400 BCE, mainly from volcanic basalt. Archaeologists have identified 17 confirmed colossal heads, found at sites including San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes in present-day Mexico.

Each head has distinctive facial features and wears a helmet-like headdress. Many researchers believe the portraits represent rulers, although their precise identities and functions remain unknown. The immense stones had to be transported from distant volcanic regions, demonstrating substantial organization and labor.

They are not the same as the moai of Rapa Nui, which were created much later and have full bodies extending below the ground. The Olmec heads are especially important because they are among the earliest large-scale portrait monuments in the Americas.