a series of travel images from Mexico - Villahermosa, capital of the state of Tabasco. Most known for La Venta Museum-Park (Parque-Museo La Venta), a collection of large sculpted heads from the Olmec culture. The park was created in 1958, when petroleum exploration threatened the highly important ancient Olmec settlement of La Venta in western Tabasco. The Olmecs were the earliest known major Mesoamerican civilization. La Venta was the most prominent Olmec center, lasting from 900 BC until its abandonment around 400 BC. The largest heads measure more than 3 meters (10 ft) across and weigh up to 40 tons.