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The first relatively modern awakening to the existence of the Olmecs was when plantation workers in 1862 found what they thought was a large, buried, iron kettle. Again, excavation, and driven by thoughts of buried treasure, they finally excavated a large carved stone head, which was the first Olmec sculpture was discovered in Mexico.

Olmec Origins.

Who were the Olmecs? What is known about them is that predate the Maya in Mesoamerica, and are believed to be the foundation of all subsequent cultures in that part of the American continent, although there is some evidence of human beings human dating back to 20,000 BC There are always different opinions in regard to dates, but the Olmes is believed to have originated in Mexico around 1250 BC, disappearing registration of about 400 BC A common feature of these and previous civilizations were as follows: –

Following a year of 365 days.

Pyraminds stone.

cultivated maize (a staple Olmec).

All had similar religious rituals and the gods of fertility, war, heaven and nature.

LAND OLMECA.

Its range of influence extended from the Tuxtlas mountains in the west, Contalpa in the lowlands of eastern Mexico, around the Gulf of Mexico. The three largest Olmec cities were: –

La Venta in Tabasco (the sector East), dominated by the rich coastal estuaries, including cocoa, rubber and salt trade.

San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan in Veracruz was at the center of the Olmec civilization, and an important political and religious center, which controlled most of the flood plains and river basin Coatzacoalco trade routes. The drainage system for the first time in Mesoamerica was discovered there, along with six colossal basalt carved ear, weighing from 20 to 40 tons each.

Laguna de los Cerros, also in Veracruz, west, controlled important basalt mines / mountains, important for the manufacture of grinding stones (stones for grinding food) and monuments.

ART AND RELIGION.

The Olmecs must have had a great respect for the art as paintings and huge stone scullptures found, along with jade artifacts and statues. Typical Olmec art appears jaguars, thick-lipped soldiers and goatee-bearded men, and often a combination jaguar and children. As descendants of the Jaguar believed the animal was held in high regard, often presented in religious ceremonies. Some of these huge carved stone heads have been found up to 100 miles away from the source of stone, leaving researchers still wonder exactly how they managed for transporting large pieces such distances., although likelyest explanation must be that they floated on barges on the extensive network of rivers. Taking into account the lipped Negroid features of these carvings, some researchers postulate that the Olmecs from Africa, and indeed their language is very similar to that spoken today in Mali. The details of the face and scare the lines on Olmec statues also bear similarities to tribal marks are among the Yoruba peoples of West Africa.

WORK AND PLAY.

Exloited rubber was first reported by the Olmecs and various carvings show ball games where the ball can be deflected off elbows, hips, knees and head, but with the hands was considered an illegal move. Initially, the Olmecs in the swampy tropical heart lived a lifestyle of hunter-gatherers, later extended to outlying areas and developing agriculture and other economic and political hierarchies as wealth and trade with outsiders increased.

Their religion, symbolic language and archtictural systems seemed strong and popular enough to have lasted until the Zapotec, Teotihuacan and Maya peoples, until everything changed with the Spanish conquest of Hernandez Cortez and Spanish / Portuguese influence. The One Catholic church was particularly instrumental in the destruction of the ancient gods and put a new one that spread throughout South America. Some might argue that Catholicism brought about changes for good and others point to the poverty of the majority of South Americans.

I will just leave you with this thought: –

"Religion is regarded by the common people as true,

By the wise as false, and by rulers as convenient. "

Seneca the Younger. (3 BC-65 AD)

While researching the origins of chocolate, I came upon the Olmecs, the first recorded peoples to inhabit Eastern Mexico, which interested me to research further.

For more information about The Olmecs, visit:- http://www.handmade-chocs.co.uk

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