The Olmecs (/ ˈɒlmɛks, ˈoʊl -/) or Olmec were an early major Mesoamerican civilization, flourishing in the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco from roughly 1200 to …

Olmec, the first elaborate pre-Columbian civilization of Mesoamerica (c. 1200–400 bce) and one that is thought to have set many of the fundamental patterns evinced by later American Indian …

Apr 4, 2018 · The Olmec civilization, located in ancient Mexico, prospered in Pre-Classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE.

Appearing around 1600 BCE, the Olmec were among the first Mesoamerican complex societies, and their culture influenced many later civilizations, like the Maya. The Olmec are known for …

Sep 18, 2025 · Emerging in the tropical lowlands of present-day southern Mexico, particularly in the states of Veracruz and Tabasco, the Olmecs flourished between roughly 1500 BCE and …

In the case of the Olmec, archaeologists think artifacts found primarily on the northern half of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec in Mesoamerica from 1200–500 B.C.E. timeframe represent the …

Jun 10, 2025 · Trade and exchange were vital to Olmec culture, involving exotic materials like jadeite and obsidian. The Olmec civilization is the name given to a sophisticated central …

Aug 2, 2025 · In the larger story of civilization, the Olmecs matter because they proved that urbanism, kingship, sophisticated art, and experimental science could all germinate in the …

People lived in small agricultural villages outside of urban centers, which were mainly for ceremonial use. The decline of the Olmec population from 400—350 BCE may have been due …

Oct 13, 2024 · The Olmec civilization, often referred to as the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica, was one of the earliest and most influential ancient civilizations in the Americas.