Ancient Society: Part 2 Olmec & Mayan

Olmec, Mayan

What is mortuary analysis?

the study of burial sites and practices

What is settlement pattern analysis? 

examines the distribution and arrangement of human settlements and activities

What is Moundville?

a political center and a religious center

What is Cahokia?

a cultural, religious, and economic center of Mississippian culture

What makes an item a prestige item?

when it's a luxury or high-quality product

What is direct procurement?

goods straight from source

What is “down-the-line” trade?

 involves purchasing through intermediaries or distributors

When did the first farming experiments begin in Mesoamerica?

7000 YA

When did people start to settle down into the sedentary villages?

10000 - 12000 YA

Where did the Olmec culture arise?

lowlands along the Gulf Coast of Mexico

What does the word Olmec mean?

Rubber people

Greenstone figures, colossal heads, and stelae are common in what sites?

Olmec Horizon sites

Jade masks and jaguar imagery are unique to which Olmec Horizon site?

San Lorenzo Site

Mounds, and plaza/ceremonial enclosures are unique to which Olmec Horizon site?

La Venta Site

Stone monuments s are unique to which Olmec Horizon site?

Tres Zapotes

What is stelae?

upright slab or stone, typically with markings

What is the nature and style of early Mayan writing?

a logosyllabic system with glyphs

What were the Maya writing about?

history, lives and achievements of rulers, astronomical events, and calendrical information

Where is the Maya Heartland?

southern Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador

When did people begin to settle down and build towns and cities?

10,000 YA

 Is it true that Maya were an off-shoot of Olmec culture?

No, the Maya developed independently and influenced by the Olmecs, rather than being a direct offshoot