Week 8 - The Olmec

The Olmec Heartland

The region in southern Mexico where the Olmec civilization emerged around 1400 BCE. It is characterized by the presence of colossal stone heads, pyramids, and ball courts. The Olmec Heartland was also known for its advanced agricultural practices, including the cultivation of maize and beans.

Lowland heartlands (125x50 miles)

Highland hinterland possibility

The Olmec Intro

Arguably the oldest “civilization” in Mesoamerica

Distinctive pan-regional art style

Religious and trade-based society

Elite centered

Large earthen mounds and carved stone sculpture

Manu cultural traits are adopted and altered by subsequent cultures

Still poorly known society

Discovering Olmec

Discovered by Matthew Stirling in the 1930s and 1940s

Early work at San Lorenzo by Coe in the 1960s

Local Chronology

Early Preclassic (1800-1200 BC) San Lorenzo site

Middle Preclassic (1200-400 BC) La Venta, Tres Zapotes sites

Iconography and Religion

Possible belief in “were-jaguars” mixed race of jaguars and people. Infantile representations

Many depictions of cleft head, which is believed to be a crack in the ground; for maize plant possibly

Overlapping attributes with maize and rain gods

Olmec Sculptures

basalt from the Tuxtla mountains (30 miles)

Flat top altars

Seated figures

Wooden busts

Techniques: bas-relief, 3D, drilling, carving

Exotic Stone

Jade from Guatemala

Serpentine from Oaxaca

Baby Dolls?

Manufactured in San Lorenzo

Diehl shows expired ceramics via chemical signatures

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The mystery of the Olmec Heads

What do they represent? Kings, Preists, ball players, likely elites

17 known heads: most from San Lorenzo

Altered altars

Meant to be seen? Then why are some buried?

How were they moved?

Were they intentionally defaces?

Early Writing and Countring

Some argue that the Olmec developed the Long Count Calendar (Start date 8/13/3114BC)

Number system and writing development

Early form of symbolic writing

Debate on Olmec Leadership (Lizzie Wade in Kinds of cooperation

Cult Leader Type leadership, follow a living “god” like cults typically do

Different governing technique unique to the olmec

Wealth was hoarded in a type of elite only building

Worshipping and handing goods to themselves

Olmec in the Highlands

Olmec invasion, marriage, missionization or trade?

Olmec consumed large amounts of foreign materials: obsidian, iron ore, serpentine, jade which required trade (or direct procurement)

Do hinterlands suggest direct or indirect present (ie Olmec people or culture influence)

Olmec Mother or Sister Culture Traditional Model

Olmec as the source of all subsequent Mesoamerica societies (“Mother Culture”): “Olmec first”; olmec centric, olmec as a civilization; supported by ceramic data

Olmec Mother or Sister Culture Revised Model

Origins of Mesoamerica in other areas beside the lowland gulf coast (highlands, southern lowlands) Olmec as a derived or synthesised culture; one of many complex chiefdoms in formative period

Olmec Mother or Sister Culture Conclusion

Some evidence for both models. Olmec signifies a first, unifying religion with a unique art style and monumental architecture. Possible more like a sister culture interacting with numerous other similar sized polities at the time.