Mask 900-400 B.C. Olmec The Olmec, whose heartland was located in present-day Mexico from 1200-400 B.C., excelled in creating fine greenstone sculptures. The almost flesh-like quality of the nose and parted lips belie the hardness of the stone from which this mask was made. Although it has been rendered in a naturalistic style, the face itself is not fully human. Rather, it is an idealized composite that alludes to the supernatural: the almond-shaped eyes, slightly downturned mouth, and wide, prominent nose are traits commonly found in depictions of Olmec otherworldly beings. One particular entity, the Olmec Maize God, is further evoked through the defined cleft at the center of the upper forehead, an element that represents the earth from which maizethe principal crop of many Mesoamerican peoples including the Olmecsprouts and grows. The mask additionally features light incisions on both cheeks and etched scallop-like motifs on the upper rim. These shallow markings were possibly mad