Reviews
Olmec: Colossal Masterworks Of Ancient Mexico
Archaeology At Colonial Brunswick
Edited by Kathleen Berrin and Virginia M. Fields (Yale University Press, 2010; 272 pgs., illus. $65 cloth; www.yale.edu/yup)
By Stanley South (N.C. Department of Cultural Resources, 2010; 308 pgs., illus., $20 paper; www.ncpublications.com)
Many students of Mesoamerica consider the Olmec to be the “mother culture” of the region from which the Maya, Zapotecs, Toltecs, Aztecs, and others sprang.While this may be a controversial view, the achievements of these ancient people of the Mexican Gulf Coast are impressive. Mesoamerican art, writing, astronomy, and architecture seem to have their origins with the Olmec beginning around 1800 b.c. and lasting until about 400 b.c. Olmec influence soon spread throughout southern Mexico, as evidenced by their artistic style. In fact, art historians have had more luck defining their artistic style than archaeologists have had defining Olmec culture. With this in mind, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and the de Young Museum in San Francisco have assembled an impressive collection of some 100 pieces of Olmec art, including monuments, sculptures, adornments, masks, and vessels, many of which have never been seen outside of Mexico.This volume is the official catalog of the exhibit that runs through January 9, 2011 in Los Angeles and February 19 through May 8, 2011 in San Francisco. Eight of the leading Olmec experts contributed essays for this book that covers every aspect of our knowledge of these ancient people. In the past 15 years, archaeologists have made impressive discoveries, and many of the mysteries of the Olmec are beginning to be unraveled. Prominent archaeological explorers of the big Gulf Coast sites of San Lorenzo, Tres Zapotes, and La Venta discuss the latest developments. Art historians add their insights and perspectives to the archaeological record. Best of all are the large color plates of the exhibit’s 100 objects, including the colossal heads that are the most familiar trademark of Olmec art, and 16 small jadeite figurines found in a spectacular offering at La Venta. This volume is an outstanding contribution to Olmec literature, and the exhibition is an American milestone.
Noted historical archaeologist Stanley South recounts the decade-long excavation of this important port on the Cape Fear River south of Wilmington, North Carolina. Brunswick was founded in 1726 and served as a major port for the region. British soldiers burned it in 1776, and it never recovered. By about 1830, it was abandoned. During the Civil War, a Confederate earthen fort was built on the site. In the 1960s, the North Carolina Department of Archives and History sponsored excavations to document the ruins of the town and create a tourist site. South led the excavations, which were an important contribution to the developing field of historical archaeology. Using old records and maps as guides, South was able to reconstruct the layout of the town and identify the ruins of many of the buildings. The abundant artifacts he uncovered helped tell the story of the colonial era. Richly illustrated with photographs, maps, and drawings, this volume is a fascinating record of an early American town. It’s now an historical site that’s managed by the state and open to the public Tuesdays through Saturdays. See www.nchistoricsites.org/brunswic
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winter • 2010-11
