Olmec civilization

The Olmec civilization was the earliest Mesoamerica, emerging from farming communities in the fertile Golf Coast region around 1200 BC. Considered the earliest civilization, evidence of their presence remains scattered throughout the state of Veracruz in the form of gigantic carved stone heads with distinct African features.

The Olmec civilization developed in the Pre-classic period. The Olmecs seem to have been dominated or at least heavily influenced most of Mesoamerica for many centuries.

The Olmec lived in hot, humid lands along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico from about 1200 BC to about 400 BC. The Olmec built cities where the came together to trade and perform ceremonies.

Farmers lived outsides the cities with corn was their main crop.

In order to consolidate their trading network, the Olmecs established a system of outposts. The outposts controlled the supply of raw materials from their source and Olmec people based in these outposts ensured the smooth running of the trade network.

The Olmec also began building pyramids. The pyramid they built at La Venta was one of the tallest ones their culture produced; it stood 112 feet high.

The finest art was produced between 800 and 400 BC. The Olmecs are noted for the excellence of their stone carving; frequently, they used a motif combining human and jaguar features.
It was believed that the Olmec civilization made a beverage, chocolatl, from the roasted and ground seeds of Theobroma cacao (or cocoa tree) as early as 1600 BC.
Olmec civilization