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The Olmecs are generally
considered to be the ultimate
ancestor of all subsequent
Mesoamerican civilizations.
Thriving between about 1200 and
400 BC, their base was the tropical
lowlands of south central Mexico,
an area characterized by swamps
punctuated by low hill ridges and
volcanoes. Here the Olmecs
practiced advanced farming
techniques and constructed
permanent settlements, including
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, La
Venta, Tres Zapotes, Laguna de los
Cerros, and La Mojarra. However,
the consolidation of their city-
states led to notable cultural
influence far beyond their
heartland, and throughout the
Mesoamerican region. This was
confirmed in 2005 with the use of
NAA (Neutron Activation Analysis)
and petrography to demonstrate
the spread of Olmec ceramic
vessels. It would appear that the
Olmec style became synonymous
with elite status in other
(predominantly highland) groups,
with evidence for exchange of
artifacts in both directions. A non-
literate group, the Olmecs
nevertheless paved the way for
the development of writing
systems in the loosely defined Epi-
Olmec period (c. 500 BC). Further
innovations include arguably the
first use of the zero, so
instrumental in the Maya long
count vigesimal calendrical system.
They also appear to have been the
originators of the famous
Mesoamerican ballgame so
prevalent among later cultures in
the region, and either retained or
invented several religious symbols
such as the feathered serpent and
the rain spirit, which persisted in
subsequent and related cultures
until the middle ages.
Comparatively little is known of
their magico- religious world,
although the clues that we have
are tantalizing. The art forms for
which the Olmecs are best known,
the monumental stone heads
weighing up to forty tons, are
generally assumed to pertain to
some form of kingly leader or
possibly an ancestor. The smaller
jade figures and celts are believed
to be domestically or institutionally
based totems or divinities. The
quality of production is
astonishing, particularly if one
considers the technology available
for production, the early date of
the pieces, and the dearth of
earlier works upon which the
Olmec sculptors could draw. Some
pieces are highly stylized, while
others demonstrate striking
naturalism with interpretation of
some facial features (notably
down-turned mouths and slit
eyes).
- (CK.0763)
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