A second Olmec monolith crosses the ocean
The Colossal Head 4 of Saint Lawrence is now in the Shanghai Museum, China. This was confirmed by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). The piece is part of “Sacred Spaces. Civilizations of Ancient Mexico”, an exhibition inaugurated on July 8 that brings together 803 pieces from different regions of the country.
The loan follows the one made in 2024 with the Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum, where the Colossal Head 5 is exhibited. Initially, its return was expected in 2025, but businessman Bernardo Noval indicated on Instagram that it will remain until 2027. The INAH has not issued an official date for that piece.
Return agreed for the end of 2027
The INAH did specify that the Colossal Head 4 and the other pieces will return to Mexico at the end of the exhibition in Shanghai, scheduled for the end of 2027. The release of these monuments—nine in total, originating from Veracruz and Tabasco—generates debate about the balance between cultural dissemination and heritage preservation.
For now, the Olmec colossus joins the long list of Mexican treasures that travel the world, carrying with it the imprint of one of the oldest civilizations in Mesoamerica.




