GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION OF THE OLMECS: CHARACTERISTICS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The geographical location of the Olmecs was along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, in the lower part of the current states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Its three main centers were San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, Laguna de los Cerros, La Venta and three Zapotes.

The Olmecs covered much of the central and southern territory of Mexico. There are even indications of manifestations of Olmec art in El Salvador.

Location of the Olmec culture

There is archaeological evidence that supports the existence of the Olmec civilization between 1500 and 500 BC, during the Middle Mesoamerican Preclassic period. Consequently, the Olmec people are considered one of the oldest Mesoamerican cultures.

The Olmec civilization lived in flood valleys and on the tops of low volcanic hills. Hence, they had a marked preference for the lowlands of the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico.

Settlements of the Olmec culture. Source: Intelelihu / CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)

The Olmec settlements were mostly concentrated in the northern half of the Tehuantepec isthmus -that is, on the west of the state of Tabasco- and in the southeast of the state of Veracruz.

Likewise, the Olmecs had an important presence throughout the Sierra Madre Oriental and the Sierra Madre de Oaxaca.

The three main Olmec settlements were San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, La Venta and Tres Zapotes.

The main settlements of the Olmec culture

Main Olmec centers

1- San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán

This location consists of a plateau approximately 50 meters high, and excavations confirm that it was the main ceremonial and political center of the Olmecs, in force between 1150 and 900 BC.

Today it is an archaeological zone located in the southeast of the state of Veracruz. San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán is recognized for the presence of huge stone monuments, characteristic of the Olmec culture.

These structures could weigh more than 40 tons, with a height of more than 2.5 meters. The most interesting ones represent human faces, and are known as “colossal carved heads”.

2- The Sale

This area is an archaeological reserve located in the state of Tabasco, specifically in the current Huimanguillo municipality, very close to the Gulf of Mexico.

The archaeological evidence collected in this area comprises approximately 38% of the total Olmec monuments or records discovered to date.

Given the characteristics of the soils in this sector, it is presumed that La Venta was an important source of supply of rubber, salt and cocoa for the Olmec civilization.

La Venta is home to the oldest Mesoamerican pyramid discovered to date. In addition, this pre-Hispanic city has a very particular architecture, Olmec sculptures everywhere and the characteristic offerings of jade.

3- Tres Zapotes

This archaeological site is located in the plain of the Papaloapan River, in the current municipality of Santiago Tuxtla, in the state of Veracruz.

Today it is home to the Tres Zapotes museum, in which some archaeological finds from the Olmec culture are on display to the public.

References

1. Gonzáles, A. (2010). Olmec culture. Recovered from: historiacultural.com
2. Olmec (1999). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. London, UK. Recovered from: britannica.com
3. Olmec Civilization (nd). Recovered from: crystalinks.com
4. Pre-Columbian civilizations (1998). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. London, UK. Recovered from: britannica.com
5. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Olmeca Nuclear Area. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
6. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). The sale. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
7. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Three Zapotes. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org
8. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia (2017). Olmec. Recovered from: es.wikipedia.org