The Olmecs (/ ˈɒlmɛks, ˈoʊl -/) or Olmec were an early major Mesoamerican civilization, flourishing in the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco from roughly 1200 to 400 BC during …

Apr 4, 2018 · The Olmec civilization, located in ancient Mexico, prospered in Pre-Classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from circa 1200 BCE to circa 400 BCE.

Olmec, the first elaborate pre-Columbian civilization of Mesoamerica (c. 1200–400 BCE) and one that is thought to have set many of the fundamental patterns evinced by later American Indian cultures of …

Feb 27, 2024 · These cultures, such as the Maya, Zapotec, Totonac, and Teotihuacán civilizations have unique art, architecture, and cultures that separate them from each other, but many historians trace …

Aug 2, 2025 · Olmec civilization (1600–400 BCE) laid foundations for Mesoamerican culture, transforming floodplains into cities through water management and governance.

Dec 9, 2025 · Olmec society practiced shamanism, ritual sacrifice, and the Mesoamerican ballgame. Deities included jaguar gods, representing fertility, power, and the supernatural.

Oct 13, 2024 · The Olmec civilization, often referred to as the “mother culture” of Mesoamerica, was one of the earliest and most influential ancient civilizations in the Americas.