700 BC Feline Triad

This large carving (about 5 feet tall and 3.6 feet wide) was recently found at an archaeological site near Chalcatzingo, Mexico.  Since 1935, more than 40 large carvings, mostly of big cats - jaguars - have been found in this area, which is about 60 miles south of Mexico City.  They are believed to be influenced by the Olmec culture, but the the Olmec culture usually carved 3-dimensional statues, rather than reliefs.  With so many cat relief sculptures, most of them set into hill sides, almost like they were ancient billboards, some archaeologists think the area may have been near a pilgrimage site, and that the carvings were placed to remind the worshippers what they should be thinking about.