OLMEC CULTURE: ORIGIN, LOCATION, CHARACTERISTICS, ORGANIZATION, ECONOMY - HISTORY - 2025

The Olmec culture was a civilization that appeared during the Mesoamerican Preclassic. Its area of ​​influence covered the southeast of the current state of Veracruz and the west of Tabasco. In addition, archaeological remains have been found that confirm its presence in other areas of Mesoamerica, reaching Guatemala, Belize or El Salvador.

This culture began to develop around 1500 BC. Its influence on later civilizations has caused many historians to call it the mother culture of Mesoamerica. Among other aspects, the Olmecs were the inventors of the calendar, the ball game or, according to some authors, the number 0.

Heads 3, 4 and 9 in the first room of the Olmec culture of the Anthropology Museum of Xalapa, Veracruz - Source: Mag2017

Its main urban centers were La Venta, Tres Zapotes and San Lorenzo. In all of them they established a political and social system in which religion was intimately linked to the exercise of power. It was also a highly hierarchical society, divided between the elite and the rest of the people.

The economy of the Olmec culture was based on agriculture, although they also developed commercial activities. On the other hand, they also stood out in the artistic field, in which the seventeen colossal heads found throughout their territory stand out.

Origin and history

There is not much data on the origin of this culture beyond what researchers have discovered from archaeological remains. It is considered one of the oldest cultures in the region, which is why it is considered the mother of civilization in Mesoamerica.

Origin

Most historians affirm that the Olmecs arrived in Mesoamerica around 1500 BC. C., although another current exists that delays its arrival to 1200 a. In both cases, the period would be framed in the middle Preclassic.

There is a coincidence in pointing out that they settled in a very wide area and that the population continued to increase through migrations until 400 BC. C.

During those centuries the Olmecs built a series of important and quite populated cities. However, it was not a unified civilization, as each settlement had its own government and social system. Therefore, the Olmec is considered as an area of ​​cultural influence and not as a political entity.

The origin of the population that formed the Olmec culture is not known. Some remains found seem to indicate that there were previous settlements with similar characteristics in Chiapas and in the center of Oaxaca, but there is no consensus theory about them.

Nor is it known who his descendants were, since historians have not reached an agreement on the subject.

History

The Olmec culture was divided into three main periods throughout its centuries of history. Historians typically use the chronology of their three main centers as the common thread of their history.

San Lorenzo

San Lorenzo was the settlement in which the main characteristics of the Olmec culture began to develop. This phase began around 1200 BC. C. and lasted until 900 a. C.

The ease of growing corn due to its geographical location, near the Coatzacoalcos river (Veracruz) was one of the causes of the rise of this city. About 1150 a. C. buildings began to be built that had all the characteristic elements of this culture, making the city one of the most inhabited of the time.

In the year 900 a. C., the city was attacked and many of its buildings were destroyed. Others survived buried, while some ceremonial sculptures were transferred to La Venta.

The sale

With the abandonment of San Lorenzo, the ceremonial center of La Venta became the most powerful city among the Olmecs, a situation that remained until 400 BC. C.

La Venta was the most important ceremonial center within the Olmec culture. The city was built in the current state of Tabasco, in the place now occupied by the municipality of Huimanguillo. At its best, it had 18,000 inhabitants.

Many inhabitants of the destroyed settlement emigrated to La Venta, something that even caused changes in the course of some rivers.

It was in this ceremonial center, in 800 a. C., where the Olmecs began to build the first pyramids in Mesoamerica. Among these, the so-called Great Pyramid stood out, built in the period of greatest splendor of the city.

Three Zapotes

About 400 BC, La Venta began to lose its position as the main Olmec ceremonial center. That position was occupied by Tres Zapotes. However, this city did not reach the development of the previous ones, since the Olmec culture was already in decline.

End of the Olmec Culture

This stage of decline lasted until 31 BC. C., when the Classic period began. The hypotheses that explain this fall are varied, without there being consensus among the experts.

Thus, some blame natural phenomena that caused a decline in harvests. In addition, a possible earthquake and the activity of the Los Tuxtlas volcano are pointed out as causes of this decline.

Another theory, supported by the discovery of mutilated human sculptures, indicates that political unrest could have occurred. These would have been intended to end the absolute power of the Olmec rulers.

Geographical and temporal location

The Olmec culture, considered the first great civilization in Mesoamerica, was born during the Preclassic period.

The first members of this culture arrived in the area around 1500 BC. C. and they would maintain their presence until almost the arrival of the Classic Period. However, its greatest apogee reached it between 1200 a. C. and 400 a. C., with the construction of three politico-religious centers of great importance: San Lorenzo, La Venta and Tres Zapotes.

Geographic location

The main settlements of the Olmec culture were located in the southeast of the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. However, its influence went further and remains have been found in much of Mesoamerica.

Thus, some discoveries made in Chiapas, in the central valleys of Oaxaca and in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec Mexico) have led us to think that these areas could be the places of origin of the Olmecs.

Likewise, remains of their culture have also been found in Guatemala, El Salvador, Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua.

General characteristics

The Olmecs developed a culture that has been considered the mother of Mesoamerican civilizations. This is due to its influence on later cultures, which can be seen in religious beliefs or in political and social organization.

Etymology of his name

In reality, nobody knows what name the Olmecs themselves gave themselves. The term "Olmec" belongs to the Aztec language and its meaning is "inhabitant of the rubber region" and was used by the Mexica to name several different peoples that inhabited Veracruz and Tabasco.

It was not until the twentieth century when archaeologists began to use that term, Olmec, with the culture that today is called that way.

Religion

The Olmec religion collected all the important aspects that would later appear in the beliefs of later civilizations. It was a polytheistic religion, with gods associated with agriculture and other natural elements, such as the stars or animals.

At the center of his beliefs was the jaguar, an animal that has a special importance in his art. The representations used to show him with the mouth characteristic of Olmec sculptures, with the upper lip very thick and the lower one down.

Other animals that acquired divine status were the alligator or toads. Often times, parts of various animals were mixed in ceremonial statues.

On the other hand, the rulers were considered descendants of the gods and were thought to have supernatural powers.

Language and writing

One of the innovations attributed to the Olmec culture is the development of a writing system, the first in all of Mesoamerica.

This claim is based on two discoveries made in 2002 and 2006, respectively. In both cases it was a series of symbols engraved in blocks that were dated between 650 and 900 BC. These dates suppose a greater antiquity than that of the first writings of the Zapotecs.

The glyphs discovered in 2002, in San Andrés Tabasco, showed a lot of similarity with the hieroglyphs that the Mayans would later use. For its part, the so-called Cascajal Block, found in 2006 near San Lorenzo, contained 62 symbols.

Calendar

Although the calendar is called Mexican or Mayan, in reality its first version was made by the Olmecs.

This calendar has two versions: the Mayan, which measured the astronomical cycles; and Mexico, for everyday use. In both cases they were based on a sacred year, 260 days, and a natural year, 365 days.

Political organization

The first Olmec communities were eminently agrarian. This led them to build stable settlements and consequently to organize politically.

At first their organization was fairly egalitarian, with family groups cultivating community land and sharing the benefits. However, this system soon began to change.

One of the theories that explain this change towards a hierarchical political system affirms that the families that seized the best lands became the elite of the settlements.

Along with land ownership, the other important factor in the emergence of a ruling class was religion. The rulers and priests belonged to the elite and that privileged position was justified as the desire of the gods.

Religion and power

The Olmec political system was a theocracy, since the rulers were considered descendants of the gods and, therefore, their representatives. In most of the occasions, the high political and religious positions were monopolized by the same person.

Chichimecatl

Although they were also called shamans, the name of the chief in the Olmec settlements was Chichimecatl. The priests also participated in government work and were in charge of predicting the rains and harvests.

Their legitimacy, as noted, came from religion and the people thought they had supernatural powers.

Social organization

As in other aspects, information on the social organization of the Olmecs is quite scarce. For this reason, almost everything that is known comes from the studies of archaeological remains and the interpretation carried out by experts.

According to the most accepted theories, the society created by the Olmecs was made up of various classes. At its peak, a minority that ran politics and religion. At the base, the rest of the town.

One of the characteristic aspects of this social stratification was the impossibility of changing classes. Belonging to one of these estates was marked by birth and remained there until death.

The same rigidity appeared with the professions: politicians were in charge of governing, priests with religious ceremonies and the rest with agricultural or construction tasks. The reason for this immobility was that, according to their beliefs, it was the gods who decided what each person dedicated himself to.

Ruling class

The ruling class, a kind of nobility, was the one that enjoyed all the social privileges. This elite was composed of the political rulers, the priests and the military. In some areas, according to experts, merchants could also be part of this social class.

Subordinate class

The rest of the population, the majority, had hardly any privileges. These subordinates were the ones in charge of doing the hardest jobs, since it was assumed that, unlike the elite, they had no relationship with the gods.

The main task of the common people was to work on the farmland. Although there are not many data, it is thought that the harvest achieved was delivered in full to the ruling class.

Territorial division

As noted, the Olmecs did not create a single political unit. In this way, its cities and settlements had their own government and maintained their independence.

Among these settlements, the great ceremonial centers stood out, as was the case of San Lorenzo or La Venta. These urban centers were the center of the Olmec culture and had an even greater social hierarchy than in other places. The elite of these cities had more power than that of the smaller towns.

On the other hand, according to the remains found in San Lorenzo, the social division was also visible in the interior of the cities. Thus, the elites resided in areas built expressly for them, without mixing with the lower class.

Economy

The most important economic activity of the Olmec culture was agriculture. In addition, it is known that the Olmecs practiced trade on a regular basis. Lastly, they were also skilled in hunting and fishing.

farming

Agriculture was the basis of the Olmec economy, as well as being the main source of food and products for commerce. Much of this importance came from the ability to take advantage of the land and the irrigation methods they implemented.

One of the agricultural techniques developed by the Olmecs was the so-called Roza agriculture. This consisted of planting in a semi-uniform way on a surface, normally located on the banks of rivers.

As would happen in later civilizations, corn was the most important crop for the Olmecs. In addition, avocados, sweet potatoes, beans, chili or cocoa were also harvested. The latter was one of the most valuable elements when trading.

As noted, the Olmecs developed novel irrigation systems to get the most out of their farmland. Through channels, for example, they managed to get the water to the places that interested them and, in addition, they avoided floods.

Fishing and hunting

Although behind the weight that agriculture had, other activities were also important within the Olmec economic system. Among these, hunting and fishing, which in addition to providing food also served to obtain resources to trade.

In the case of hunting, their most frequent prey were birds or deer. For their part, the Olmecs took advantage of the rivers near their settlements to fish for various types of species.

Commerce

The commercial activities developed by the Olmecs were increasing with the passage of time. One of the factors that contributed to this growth was the creation of communication routes to be able to trade on a large scale. Normally, they preferred the use of waterways to transport the products they wanted to exchange.

The Olmecs traded through exchange, since there was no type of currency. Some of their main products came from agriculture and hunting, although they were also known for the trade in rubber, handicrafts and ceramics.

Over time, its merchants also began to exchange semi-precious stones, elements for ceremonies and some exotic objects.

Culture

The contributions of the Olmec culture in gastronomy, art or traditions were collected by later Mesoamerican civilizations. Among the most important are the game of the ball, the creation of the calendar or the construction of pyramids.

Gastronomy

Olmec gastronomy was based on its main economic activities: agriculture, hunting and fishing. To obtain all the necessary nutrients, the Olmecs had to develop techniques to take advantage of the resources of their environment. In this sense, one of his innovations was the creation of dishes that combined plant and animal foods.

Among what they obtained from agriculture, corn stood out, to the point of being considered the most basic food of the Olmec diet. In general, there were two large harvests each year. As would happen later with other civilizations, this cereal came to have an almost divine consideration.

Other frequent products in the Olmec diet were beans, squash, tomatoes and potatoes, as well as fruits and wild plants present in the areas they inhabited.

For their part, the most consumed animals were rabbits, deer or raccoons. At one point, the Olmecs managed to domesticate some species, such as the turkey, which facilitated their incorporation into their diet.

Traditions

The Olmecs were, possibly, the inventors of the ball game that later became general in other cultures of Mesoamerica. According to experts, this game was played for both fun and religious purposes. Although there are no direct data, rubber balls have been found dating back to 1600 BC. C. in a swamp used for sacrifices located near San Lorenzo.

Precisely, evidence of the practice of human sacrifice by the Olmecs has also been found. In general, it seems that children used to be sacrificed, although remains of adults have also appeared. The reasons seem to be religious.

Another area in which the Olmecs were innovative was in the treatment of the dead, specifically regarding funeral rituals. According to their religion, the deceased passed to another life after death, so these rites were important, although they varied according to social class.

Thus, the peasants were buried in the earth and a stone was raised to act as a tombstone. The priests and rulers, on the other hand, were buried with rich offerings destined for the gods. Some paintings found show that shamans participated in the ceremonies to bless the land.

Art

The best preserved archaeological remains are the works made with stone, both monumental and the small ones made with precious stones. In general, it is a stylized art with religious motifs.

Despite the above, the Olmecs also produced markedly naturalistic works of art. According to experts, his knowledge of human anatomy is striking.

Apart from the representation of human beings, the Olmecs were also characterized by representing animals. In this area, the pots in the shape of birds or fish stand out.

On the other hand, Olmec architecture was very monumental. One of its most important constructions were the pyramids, which could be both quadrangular and round. The raw material for these buildings was clay and, to make them more durable, they added drainage systems.

In the case of sculpture, and leaving aside their colossal heads, the Olmec artisans made small figures and streamers. Their temples and tombs were adorned with sculptures and mirrors with crystals.

Finally, their ceramics were characterized by having only one color or, at most, two. His works were adorned with mythological or geometric motifs, although the most common is that animals were represented.

Colossal heads

The 17 colossal heads that have been found so far are, without a doubt, the best known artistic works of this culture. Their weight ranges from 6 to 40 tons and, according to the most accepted theory, they represent rulers and warriors. For its construction, the Olmecs used basalt and other types of volcanic stones, all of great size.

Each of these heads was made with different features, although they all share a certain Negroid appearance. This led to a theory, later discarded, about possible contact with peoples on the other side of the ocean.

Another theory to explain these features is that the Olmecs tried to stylize the features and not represent them accurately.

References

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