The Olmec were Mesoamerica's first civilization. They were located

in Laguna de los Cerros, tres Zapotes, San Lorenzo, La Venta, and the

Tuxtla Mountains, in Mexico. The purpose of this report is to show how

the Olmec lived, their beliefs, and their spectacular art.

The Olmec were a mother culture to later civilizations. The culture

of the Olmec started in Mexico's Gulf Coast between 1200 and 1400 B.C ,

approximately between the Trojan war, and the golden age of Athens, and

ended about 3000 years ago. The Olmec were among the first Americans to

design ritual centres and raise earthen pyramids. On the pyramids there

were statues which were strategically placed as a shrine. As the Olmec

culture gradually developed some Olmec villages grew strong and

powerful, while others were less fortunate. The villages shared their

resources, such as rubber and basalt. The Olmec had different social

ranks, from workers such as fishers, farmers, traders and specialists

such as artisans and sculptors, to rulers. Rulers were individuals who

had the power to float basalt down the river and to commission colossal

statues and other public work. The Olmec farmed and ate corn. They also

ate shellfish, fish, turtles, beans, deer, and dog. Perhaps the most

spectacular trait of the Olmec were that they used hieroglyphs. They

used hieroglyphs to record dates, events, and to tell stories. Although

the Olmec were hard workers they still had time for a ceremonial ball

game.

The Olmec had many beliefs. Among these beliefs were chaneques

which were dwarf trixters who lived in water falls. They also had their

own beliefs in cosmology. The Olmec had natural shrines devoted to the

hill on which the shrine was located and the water. The Olmec were

believed to have a corn god. Jaguars were also worshipped religiously,

perhaps because the jaguar was the most powerful predator. The Olmec

believed that the jaguar brought rain. The men would sacrifice blood to

the jaguar, wear masks, dance, and crack whips to imitate the sound of

thunder. This ritual was done in May. The Olmec also made offerings of

jade figures to the jaguar.

The Olmec had early achievements in art. Perhaps the most

incredible findings from the Olmec culture are the sculptures. The Olmec

used wood, basalt and jade to make the statues. The wooden artifacts are

said to be the oldest in Mesoamerica. The Olmec used basalt to make

colossal heads. The size of these heads ranged from 5 feet to 11 feet

tall. Some say the heads represent sacrificial offering. Others think

they portray the elite Olmec ancestors. These heads have also been

interpreted as being warriors or ball players. Basalt was also used to

carve thrones. The Olmec used art to glorify rulers by making them

monuments of super natural creatures to portray them such as part human,

part beast. The beast was usually the jaguar. It is believed that these

monuments were annihilated after the death of the leader. The figurines

made of jade were small and sexless. Some of the more elaborate statues

wore extensive headdress with a long train, and rectangular chest

plates, sat cross-legged, leaned forward and looked straight ahead.

In conclusion the Olmec, Mesoamerica's first civilization were a

mother culture to other civilizations. They had many beliefs, and had

early achievements in elaborate art. The article, "New light on the

Olmec," was an interesting article but it was very repetitive. It is

scarcely recommended.