During the Pre-Classic Period Between 1200 BC-600 AD, the Olmec Were the Most Prevalent

Olmec

During the Pre-classic period between 1200 BC-600 AD, the Olmec were the most prevalent group in Mesoamerica. The Olmec resided around the regions of La Venta in Tabasco, San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan and Laguna de los Cerros in Veracruz. They seem to be highly developed and well organized. They developed a complex calendar and hieroglyphic writing system, and had unique art creations.

The Olmec cities were constructed around a central raised mound, which was used for religious ceremonies. Around 900 BC, these raised mounds were replaced with pyramid-shaped structures. A hierarchical society is seen by the separation of the elite and common groups in the residential houses. The houses were made of wooden walls with clay and palm roof tops.

Crop production was made possible by an irrigation system that was built through the city. Crops were supplemented by fishing and hunting. The Olmecs had access to many waterways which were used for fishing and trading. Basalt, found in the TuxtlaMountains, was used to construct plazas and religious pyramid structures. Basalt, among other substances, was thought to have been traded from different cultures surrounding the Olmecs.

Animals were strong symbols in the Olmec religion. Because of this, it is concluded that the Olmecs practiced shamanism. They believed that each person had an animal spirit. Hallucinogenic drugs from the marine frog may have been used by the shamans for trances. The nobles were buried with jewels in plazas constructed of jade walls. The Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan is an example of an Olmec ceremonial site.

Olmecs are most notable for their colossal head art. It is theorized that the heads are modeled after their rulers. Most of the colossal heads were decapitated or destroyed in some way. Researchers believe that the Olmecs did this themselves after a ruler died as a sacrifice to the gods or animal spirits. The facial features of the heads were people with slanted eyes and large lips. Many have argued over whether the Olmecs were of African or Asia descent, because of these facial features. Others believe that this is just an overgeneralization. Most of the heads were deformed, which is done at birth for noble children, as the Mayan culture did. (See picture).

Other motifs in Olmec art consist of jaguars, serpents and monkeys. The jaguar is seen to be a supernatural creature, because of its repetition in the art form. An intertwining between human and animal figures reflects the religious belief of the connection between the two. Most sculptures were made of jade, which was also not found in the Olmec region.