in southern mexico, at sites such san lorenzo, laenta, tres zapotes near the gulf coast, and tlatilco and chalcatzingo in the highlan. in the 18th and 19th centuries, finely carved jades from mesoamerica began to appear in museums and private collections. no one knew what to make of them. some were labeled chinese, others maya or aztec. in 1862, farmer's discovery of a he stone head at tres zapotes triggered speculation that it had be carved by africans who had immigrated the americas. newsreel annncer: pulling it for two hos ov swampland is the last ste of our trip to the spot whe we hope to find the big stone heads of which we have hrd citi rors. obregon: aeologist matthew stirng setutn 1939 tonravel the mystery o these strange works of art, which by then were being called "olmec."