-
The first signs of complex society in Mesoamerica were the Olmec civilization. The area known as their birhtplace is the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico.Their culture influenced the surrounding areas and continued to have influence in later civilizations like the Mayan and Aztecs. The Olmec lived in these San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Laguna de los Cerros, Tres Zapotes, and La Venta.
-
San Lorenzo begins as a ceremonial center and then capital for the Olmec civilization because of their vast trading. The majority of the people lived outside the center in small villages because it was used primarily for ceremonial purposes and elite activity. Luxury artifacts have been found coming from other regions such as jade,obsidian, and magnetite.
Image: Olmec Jade ear flares.Jade is found in the Motagua River valley in eastern Guatemala. -
The Olmec are known for their art style.
Image: The Olmec are known for their 20 ton stone heads, quarried and carved out of volcanic rock called basalt, to commemorate their rulers. 10 heads were found in San Lorenzo -
There is a shift as people move away and deface and destroy monuments in San Lorenzo as the population of La Venta becomes the new Olmec capital.
Image: a Olmec stone head damaged -
La Venta replaces San Lorenzo as the capital of the Olmec culture and surpasses its population to reach an estimated 18,000. Image: Complex A: is a sacred ceremonial center where gifts were given to the gods consisting of numerous statues, serpentine stones and colored clay have been found. Complex B:is a large area where thousands of commoners could watch ceremonies taking place on Complex C
-
Complex C: a pyramid shaped man-made mountain that dominated the city and royal compound. It has a slightly stepped slope made of white sandstone embedded in sandy clay on the other side of the this image. Image:The pyramid of La Venta was once massive, until oil operators in the 1960 turned in to a hill.
-
Nobody really knows why the Olmec civilization ended. Just like when they left San Lorenzo it is believed the Olmec destroyed La Venta by destroying and defacing monuments at La Venta.
