 La <unk> Monument 1 is speculated to have been the portrait of La <unk> 's final ruler . Monument 1 measures 2 @.@ 41 metres ( 7 @.@ 9 ft ) high by 2 @.@ 08 metres ( 6 @.@ 8 ft ) wide by 1 @.@ 95 metres ( 6 @.@ 4 ft ) deep ; it weighs 24 tons . The front of the headdress is decorated with three motifs that apparently represent the claws or fangs of an animal . Above these symbols is an angular U @-@ shaped decoration descending from the <unk> . On each side of the monument a strap descends from the headdress , passing in front of the ear . Each ear has a prominent ear ornament that descends from the <unk> to the base of the monument . The features are those of a mature man , with <unk> around the mouth , eyes and nose . Monument 1 is the best preserved head at La <unk> but has suffered from erosion , particularly at the back . The head was first described by Franz <unk> and Oliver La <unk> who investigated the La <unk> remains on behalf of Tulane University in 1925 . When discovered it was half @-@ buried ; its massive size meant that the <unk> were unable to excavate it completely . Matthew <unk> fully excavated the monument in 1940 , after clearing the thick vegetation that had covered it in the intervening years . Monument 1 has been moved to the <unk> @-@ <unk> La <unk> in <unk> . The head was found in its original context ; associated finds have been <unk> dated to between 1000 and 600 BC . 
