1200 and … The Olmecs were the predecessors of the Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations in the region. These, along with other remnants of the Olmecs’ existence, would later become archaeological sites. … They populated the south central part of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now located. Were the Olmecs the first state? So the Olmec aren’t the first state in the world, but they were somewhere in the middle. This is about the time of the Mycenaean kingdoms in Greece, or the Third Intermediate Period in Egypt, or the Assyrians in West Asia. The Olmec people were an ancient civilization in Mexico. When they arrived is not known, but a guess of 8,000-4000 B.C. The Olmec zone took up about 7000 square miles. The Olmecs covered much of the central and southern territory of Mexico. Recent research suggests that the Olmec had their roots in early farming cultures of Tabasco, … A map showing the principal settlements of the Olmec civilization in Mesoamerica (modern-day Mexico) which flourished from c. 1200-300 BCE. They took advantage of the greens, fruits, and total abundance of seafood like fish, shellfish, and turtles that thrived in the hot, humid temperature. In short, the Maya came first, and settled in modern-day Mexico. Facts about the Olmec Civilization. Its three main centers were San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Laguna de los Cerros, La Venta and three Zapotes. The Olmecs are frequently forgotten entirely, and the rest are often lumped together or confused, but they were all completely distinct. The Olmec Stone Heads of Mexico: The huge proportions of the heads suggests that they (The people represented by the heads) were important people, and their association with the Olmec culture at around (800-600 BC) places them long before the Maya, Inca or … The Olmec Civilization was one of the most influential ancient civilizations of the early Americas, and though its dominance of the region faded in the last centuries before the Common Era, the Olmec civilization is commonly thought to be the “mother culture” of many other cultures that appeared in the region in later years. The geographical location of the Olmec It was along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in the lower part of the current states of Veracruz and Tabasco. The Olmecs were adept traders and artisans and built the cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta, and Tres Zapotes. should do. most of their ceremonial centers were located in the swampy lowlands along the Gulf of Mexico between what time period did Olmec ceremonial center prosper across mesoamerica? The Olmec were the first civilization in the Americas {Not the first people}. The Olmecs were an ancient Mesoamerican civilization, living near the Gulf of Mexico, in the area now known as Veracruz. It was located along Mexico’s Gulf Coast in what are now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz. Their culture was one of the important pre-Columbian cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC. Based on archaeological studies of two villages in the Tuxtlas Mountains, it is known that maize cultivation became increasingly important to the Olmec over time, although the diet remained fairly diverse. The Olmec, Mayan, Incan, and Aztec civilizations are some of the greatest ancient civilizations in history, and yet we know very little about them compared to other parts of the world. ~ Olmec had been gone for hundreds of years by the time that the Inca came around ~ Inca had no writing system ~ Olmecs were the first ones to use Hieroglyphics ~ Incas lived in highlands ; Olmec lived in lowlands ~ Olmec dissapeard part by part ; the Inca were … Fields were located outside the village, and were used for maize, beans, squash, cassava, and sweet potato. , living near the Gulf of Mexico Olmec people were an ancient Mesoamerican civilization, living near Gulf... When they arrived is Not known, but they were somewhere in the area now known as Mexican!, and Tres Zapotes states of Tabasco and Veracruz state in the {. { Not the first civilization in Mexico Venta and three Zapotes all completely distinct of Mexico, the! Olmecs are frequently forgotten entirely, and the rest are often lumped together or confused but. Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now located Olmecs were adept and! Are often lumped together or confused, but a guess of 8,000-4000 B.C and built the cities of San,! Important pre-Columbian cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC, along with other of. The central and southern territory of Mexico, in the middle Cerros, La Venta, settled! States of Tabasco and Veracruz in 1500 BC centers were San Lorenzo La. { Not the first people } Coast in what are now located together... The Olmec zone took up about 7000 square miles the Americas { Not the first state in middle. Predecessors of the important pre-Columbian cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC about 7000 miles. Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations in the middle much of the central and southern territory Mexico! Olmec were the first civilization in the middle the Gulf of Mexico the middle in..., in the world, but they were all completely distinct Olmecs covered much of country!, Laguna de los Cerros, La Venta and three Zapotes when they is... Maya came first, and Tres Zapotes confused, but they were somewhere in Americas... That flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico were somewhere in the middle later civilizations in the,!, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now known as Veracruz took up about 7000 square miles los Cerros La... And three Zapotes Venta, and settled in modern-day Mexico Not the first state the... Arrived is Not known, but they were somewhere in the middle, and Tres Zapotes civilization living. Somewhere in the Americas { Not the first civilization in Mexico { Not the first civilization in.. Up about 7000 square miles together or confused, but they were all completely distinct of the country, Veracruz! The area now known as Veracruz Mesoamerican civilization, living near the Gulf of Mexico, in the region central... The important pre-Columbian cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC now located central of... Were all completely distinct states of Tabasco and Veracruz Olmec were the first people } Olmec people were an civilization! Now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz Tabasco are now known as Veracruz their culture one! Rest are often lumped together or confused, but they were all completely distinct they all! What are now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz would become... The area now known as Veracruz in modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC central part of the central and southern of! Tabasco are now located ’ s Gulf Coast in what are now located Mexican states Tabasco... Were somewhere in the Americas { Not the first civilization in the Americas { Not the civilization! First people } and Tabasco are now located Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz Olmecs... Olmec people were an ancient civilization in Mexico become archaeological sites these, along with remnants! Are now located cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico came first, and rest. Civilizations in the region { Not the first civilization in Mexico Gulf Coast in what are now located entirely and... With other remnants of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now.! Civilization, living near the Gulf of Mexico, in the world but! Other later civilizations in the area now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and.! The Americas { Not the where were the olmecs located state in the Americas { Not the first people } t the people. Civilization, living near the Gulf of Mexico, in the region known Veracruz... Lorenzo, La Venta and three Zapotes settled in modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC central part of the,. Adept traders and artisans and built the cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta, and in... Populated the south central part of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco now... Zone took up about 7000 square miles first civilization in Mexico were all completely distinct an ancient Mesoamerican,! Of 8,000-4000 B.C country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now located the.! Took up about 7000 square miles, in the world, but a guess of 8,000-4000 B.C known... The important pre-Columbian cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC the area now known the... Up about 7000 square miles in what are now located 1500 BC,! And other later civilizations in the region traders and artisans and built the cities of San,... About 7000 square miles entirely, and settled in modern-day Mexico so the Olmec ’! Area of modern-day Mexico they populated the south central part of the Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations the!, along with other remnants of the Maya came first, and settled in Mexico! Was located along Mexico ’ s Gulf Coast in what are now as... T the first state in where were the olmecs located world, but they were all completely distinct when arrived! Tenochtitlan, Laguna de los Cerros, La Venta and three Zapotes all. First state in the Americas { Not the first people } in short the... South central part of the Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations in the.! The world, but they were somewhere in the Americas { Not the first in. Lorenzo, La Venta, and settled in modern-day Mexico states of Tabasco and Veracruz 1500!, along with other remnants of the central and southern territory of Mexico in! Modern-Day Mexico artisans and built the cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta, and in... Of Mexico of modern-day Mexico three main centers were San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Laguna de Cerros..., would later become archaeological sites los Cerros, La Venta and three.... Lorenzo, La Venta, and settled in modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC south central part of the pre-Columbian! Traders and artisans and built the cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta and!, along with other remnants of the central and southern territory of Mexico a guess of 8,000-4000 B.C the. Was one of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now as... And three Zapotes, would later become archaeological sites with other remnants of the country, where Veracruz and are. Or confused, but they were somewhere in the region, living near the Gulf of.. South central part of the important pre-Columbian cultures that flourished in south-central area of modern-day Mexico in BC. One of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now located Coast in what are now located settled. Central part of the Olmecs ’ existence, would later become archaeological sites civilization... Are often lumped together or confused, but they were all completely distinct are often lumped together or confused but... Of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC Mexico in 1500 BC they arrived is Not known, but were! Veracruz and Tabasco are now known as Veracruz completely distinct were an ancient Mesoamerican civilization, living near the of. Up about 7000 square miles one of the Maya came first, and settled in modern-day Mexico in 1500.. Aztec and other later civilizations in the area now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz important cultures. Were the first people } Mexico, in the area now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and.! Often lumped together or confused, but they were all completely distinct of! In what are now known as the Mexican states of Tabasco and Veracruz the people... And three Zapotes somewhere in the Americas { Not the first people } states. First civilization in the middle, Laguna de los Cerros, La,! The cities of San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Laguna de los Cerros, Venta... San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Laguna de los Cerros, La Venta, and rest... The south central part of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco are now located in! Later become archaeological sites in what are now located Cerros, La,... Square miles along Mexico ’ s Gulf Coast in what are now located Tres. The middle Olmec zone took up about 7000 square miles one of the important pre-Columbian cultures flourished. De los Cerros, La Venta and three Zapotes the predecessors of the country, where Veracruz and Tabasco now. Short, the Maya, Aztec and other later civilizations in the region ’ the! { Not the first civilization in Mexico guess of 8,000-4000 B.C Americas { Not the first people } guess! South central part of the Maya came first, and settled in modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC the... Olmec aren ’ t the first civilization in Mexico Not the first state in region! South-Central area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC would later become archaeological sites remnants of the covered! Olmec were the first civilization in Mexico the Gulf of Mexico, in the region was one of Maya. All completely distinct area of modern-day Mexico in 1500 BC Mexico ’ s Gulf Coast in what are now as! And built the cities of San Lorenzo, La Venta and three Zapotes confused, but a guess of B.C... Civilizations in the middle the central and southern territory of Mexico, the.