The Olmecs: One of the earliest Mesoamerican cultures

The Olmecs were the earliest known major Mesoamerican civilization. Following a progressive development in Soconusco, they occupied the tropical lowlands of the modern-day Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. It has been speculated that the Olmecs derived in part from the neighboring Mokaya or Mixe–Zoque cultures. The Olmec appeared to practice ritual bloodletting and played the Mesoamerican ballgame, hallmarks of nearly all subsequent Mesoamerican societies.

The antiquity of the Olmec civilization of ancient Mexico only became apparent with the advent of radiocarbon dating in the middle of the twentieth century. Olmec artists mastered an array of media and produced representations that range from refined miniatures in precious jadeite or wood, to monumental works in basalt. Now considered the first great sculptural tradition in the ancient Americas, these images remind us that naturalism is not necessarily the result of an evolution: Olmec sculptures often demonstrate a striking degree of physiognomic fidelity. Well known for their "colossal heads"—probably ruler portraits, carved from basalt boulders—Olmec sculptors also represented individuals on a smaller scale, such as these figures of both adults and children, the muscled arms and strong legs seemingly ready to spring into action.

Colossal head from Monument 4 Veracruz Mexico Omec 1200-900 BCE Basalt photographed at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Colossal head from Monument 4 Veracruz Mexico Omec 1200-900 BCE Basalt photographed at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Crawling Baby Earthenware Olmec Culture 1200-900 BCE Mexico photographed at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Seated baby holding a ball earthenware Olmec Culture 1200-900 BCE Veracruz Mexico photographed at the De Young Museum in San Francisco, California

Olmec Jadeite photographed at the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, Texas.

Seated and reclining hunchbacks Mexico Puebla Olmec style Early-Middle Formative Period 1000-500 BCE Ceramic photographed at the Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas.

Seated hollow Baby Mexico Veracruz Tenenexpan Gulf Coast Olmec Early Formative Period 1100-900 BCE Ceramic photographed at the Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas.

Seated ruler in ritual pose Mexico Puebla San Martin Texmelucan Highland Olmec culture Middle Formative Period 900-500 BCE Serpentine and cinnabar photographed at the Dallas Museum of Art in Dallas, Texas.

Seated figure Earthenware Olmec Culture 1200-900 BCE Mexico photographed at the Portland Art Museum in Portland, Oregon.

Baby Figure Mexico Olmec 12th-9th century BCE Ceramic photographed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Kneeling Bearded Figure 900–400 B.C.E. Olmec, Mexico, courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

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