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 …

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

Feb 27, 2024 · The Olmec created massive monuments, including colossal stone heads, thrones, stela (upright slabs), and statues. They may have been the originators of the Mesoamerican ball game, a …

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.

Sep 18, 2025 · Emerging in the tropical lowlands of present-day southern Mexico, particularly in the states of Veracruz and Tabasco, the Olmecs flourished between roughly 1500 BCE and 400 BCE. …