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| Figure 1: Olmec Colossal Head (Source: Britannica Encyclopedia) |
Central America is known for a great number of things, particularly
in the archaeological world. The Aztecs,
Maya, and Zapotecs are all well-known and greatly studied, but all of these
cultures have one thing in common: they were preceded by a great civilization
that disappeared before their creation but that actually significantly
influenced all of them. This
civilization is known as the Olmec, the foundational culture that gave rise to
all the rest, which will be delved more deeply into herein.
The Olmec received their name not from themselves but from
the Aztecs. Scholars do not know enough
about the Olmec language (spoken or written) to call them by their own
name. The Aztecs named them the “rubber
people”, although it is unclear as to why.
What is clear is that the Olmec had a great deal of influence over their
empire, which existed between 1400 and 400 BC and covered the whole of modern
day southern Mexico. They built several
large cities full of pyramids and were trade centers for the remainder of the
continent. The Olmec traded for a
variety of exotic items, including serpentine, jade, magnetite, obsidian, mica,
rubber, pottery, feathers, and polished mirrors of ilmenite and magnetite. They most likely exchanged their large stores
of maize and beans, which they harvested once or twice a year.
The Olmec had a very complex religion, which influenced all
future religions of forthcoming cultures.
The Olmec’s religion was polytheistic, meaning they worshiped many
gods, including a feather serpent and jaguar god. They practiced auto-sacrifice, sacrifice of
one’s self, which involved giving one’s blood to the gods. Evidence of this ritual was based on material
culture evidence, including ceramic and real sting ray spines. The Olmec were also credited with creating
the Mesoamerican calendar, the ball game, and writing. All of these practices were later adopted by
the Maya and Aztecs and became staples of their cultures.
The Olmec are most well-known for their colossal heads (Figure 1). There are 17 colossal heads that have been
discovered. They measure in 1 to 3
meters in height. Each is unique in its
own way, donning individual headdresses, but they share common characteristics,
including fleshy cheeks, slanted and crossed eyes, and flattened noses. These colossal heads are believed to
represent Olmec elites, but other hypotheses have been put forward, including
that they represent foreigners from the Mediterranean, Africa, or Asia or
individuals with Down’s Syndrome.
Neither of these hypotheses are widely accepted or supported, though.
The Olmec civilization existed for centuries, but it
mysteriously fell in 400 BC. Scholars
have not yet determined why specifically the civilization fell. Archaeological evidence suggests that there
was a large population decline in the years leading up to the fall of the
Olmec. This decline is associated with
environmental changes that most likely hindered harvests and caused starvation
among the Olmec. The cities were
abandoned but not before being destroyed.
While this signaled the end of the Olmec their influence continued on
among subsequent cultures, making the Olmec the foundation or mother culture
of all of Central America’s great cultures.
Bibliography
Cartwright, M.
2013. “Olmec Civilization.” Ancient History Encyclopedia. http://www.ancient.eu/Olmec_Civilization/
No Author. No
Date. “Olmec.” McGill University. https://www.cs.mcgill.ca/~rwest/link-suggestion/wpcd_2008-09_augmented/wp/o/Olmec.htm
No Author. 2011. “Olmec: Colossal Masterworks of Ancient
Mexico.” Fine Arts Museum of San
Francisco. https://deyoung.famsf.org/deyoung/exhibitions/olmec-colossal-masterworks-ancient-mexico
No Author. 2015. “The Mysterious Civilization of the Olmecs.” Ancient Origins. http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-ancient-places-americas/mysterious-civilization-olmecs-002540
Ojus, D. 2007. “Olmec Writing: The Oldest in the Western
Hemisphere.” Journal of Young Investigators http://www.jyi.org/issue/olmec-writing-the-oldest-in-the-western-hemisphere/
31 comments:
Would you suggest that one reason Olmec fell was due to 7 years drought that lead to famine? Since they were stocking up on exotic material in expence of their food if a drought came through they could be worse off than other civilizatons and their people would have took what they could and left to neighboring civilization or made their own.
Among many New World cultures of the past* environmental degradation is most often identified as either a contributing or primary factor in civilization collapse. Therefore, it could be. :)
*I know New World cultures best as I wanted to study ancient Maya before switching to Chilean cultural groups, so please do not think that Old World cultures were devoid of environmental degradation.
With new technology and more archaeologist getting in the work field, do you believe that more colossal heads could be founded? Knowing that the Olmec created the calendar and writing was there other small things that we use in our time today that could of lead to what they used back then?
Can more colossal heads be found? That ultimately depends on a few factors, the most import of which is whether or not more exist. These are called colossal heads for a reason: they are large and they are heavy (several tons), so there may not be very many in existence just due to the amount of effort and time required in making them. Furthermore, if they were important there may have been a limited number of them because having too many would take away from the importance. (Just look at diamond slogans and how they are marketed as a rare, which creates more monetary value, as well as the cultural values associated with their importance due to cost, association with engagements, etc.)
If more are available to be found then other factors come into play: getting to them. They exist in pretty dense and dangerous jungles. One of the most venomous snakes lives there, and many people avoid the forests because they cannot get adequate medical attention if they are bit. (One of my former colleagues is a former colleague because he was almost bit and killed by one, which was enough for him to leave the profession all together.) Newer technologies, such as satellite imagery, is enabling us to find sites better, but that costs money and grant money is being cut quite a bit these days. So we have the technology just not the means of using it. :(
As for smaller artifacts associated with the Olmec, yes, they did have those. They would have had to. The preservation in these areas, as is the case in any very humid environment, is not conducive to allowing smaller items to preserve well, making it difficult to excavate and acquire them through the archaeological record. This leaves us with what does survive to today to interpret the archaeological record, as well as ethnographic analogy when available and appropriate. We will be going over these concepts in our discussions on archaeology, but I appreciate your curiosity and interests. :)
Dr.Boston,
Do you think that Olmec culture was the first to create statues? If so, do you think that is the reason we make statues today? (saying we developed it from the Olmec culture) I wonder if the Aztecs called the Olmec culture "rubber people" based on their skin color, it may have looked like rubber.
Excellent questions, Tatum. Were the Olmec the first globally to make statues, definitely not. We will discuss that topic later in the term. Were the first in central America? Possibly. I do not know much about cultural groups that predate the Maya, so I cannot say for sure. Plus, I do know that new areas of Central America that had not been exhaustively investigated previously are being investigated now so we could see a change in the cultural history of the region. As for why the Aztecs called the Olmec rubber people it was probably not because of their skin color because the Olmec predate the Aztec by a long period of time, but it may be tied to another reason that I could not and did not find in my research.
LaTroya "Trey" Jamison
Dr, Boston
Does this explain why there are pyramids and similar architectural structures around the world? Especially considering that most civilizations had not discovered one another simultaneously?
Trey, I'm not 100% sure what you are getting at, so I'm going to try my best to answer your question. Pyramids, and other cultural phenomenon that are similar among geographically separated cultures, are cultural phenomenon that could have been created through either independent invention or indirect cultural contact of some sort. In the case of pyramids between Central American and other cultures that are geographically separated (e.g. the Egyptians) it is most likely independent invention, where both groups observe natural phenomena (e.g. sand dunes or mountains) and decided to copy it in their own ways.
I wonder why the Aztecs called the Olmec people the “rubber people”. On the other hand I think its pretty cool that Olmec's was building pyramids back then. Those people were really smart.
The Nahuatl (Aztec) name for these people, Olmecatl, or Olmec in the modern corruption, means “rubber people” or “people of the rubber country.” That term was chosen because the Olmecs extracted latex from Panama rubber trees (Castilla elastica) growing in the region and mixed it with the juice of a local vine (Ipomoea alba, moonflower) to create rubber.
The Editors of Encyclopædia Britannica. (2015, April 27). Olmec. Retrieved March 04, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/topic/Olmec
S.Carter
I know there is a hypothesis about the colossal heads but considering there is only 17, could they possibly be tribal heads or the ones leading the group? I asked because if they created the stones, why has there been more found?
That is a logical hypothesis, which has been suggested. :) Ultimately, 17 is the number we found, and given the dense jungles of where they are located it is possible that there are more (just as it is possible that there are not given the size and weight of each of these). Hopefully, we will figure out the mysteries of the Olmec sooner rather than later.
I wonder if the Olmec traditions/culture are still carried on today? The Olmec were a live years ago but holding on to the culture and tradions is what I am curious about.
I honestly do not know. I know the Aztecs and Maya still live, exist, and practice their cultures today, but I'm not sure about the Olmec.
Dr. Boston, I was just wondering if you thought the colossal heads represent Olmec elites, foreigners or individuals with Down’s Syndrome.
I am of the unpopular opinion that they represent individuals with Down's Syndrome. We do not have any substantial evidence to support this, but we also lack evidence to really reach a definitive conclusion. Therefore I feel that this conclusion is just as good as any other.
I would love to be on a dig where the colossal heads were found, or to visit someday. I find the study of these old cultures very intriguing
it amazes me sometimes when i read how the ancient civilizations listed about really made trade off of rubber, zinc, obsidian, in today's world those items are worth little to none. what was rubber use for?
John, they did not trade rubber. They were referred to as the "rubber people" by the Aztecs, but the reasons are unknown.
Why dose the Aztecs called the Olmec people the rubber people?
Why don't scholars know enough information about the Olmec Language? Would you suggest that more scholars learn more about the Olmec Language?
Scholars do not know much about the Olmec in general because there is not much to study, including in relation to their language. We need examples of the language to be able to study it. :)
The Olmec being the Mother of all cultures i certainly believe that this just leads back to the mother land. With Africa being the Eve of everyone. I feel these heads just represents Black Queens and Kings of that time due to the facial structures.
So were the Olmec people considered as human or some sort of neanderthal or something ? I also wanted to know what the "ball game" is?
(Chandler Shook)
Has there been any findings if there is significance in making 17 exactly? Could it be possible that there are more hidden? Also, did they have a leader of the gods or were they all worshiped the same?
Chandler, I'm not aware of the number 17 holding any sort of significance among the Olmec, but that does not mean that it didn't. It's possible that there are more that remain to be discovered. As for their ideology, I'm not sure. You should look into it as you are interested. :)
What I learned in this passage that they built several cities and put pyramids and were trade where being made variety of exotic items, including serpentine, jade, magnetite, ECT.-Alexander Taylor
PhinasiaButler
i think the Olmec culture is a little bit interesting to me. considering the fact that the Mayans as well as the Aztecs have followed in behind the Olmec culture rituals as far as sacrifice and the worshiping of multiple gods for numerous reasons. the olmec must have made a huge impact on others traditional beliefs for others to follow.
After reading this blog I would love to go visit one day where the colossal heads were found I wonder what else could be found out there maybe I might be fortunate enough to go one day . - Mykia Chaney
Interesting to know that The Olmec were also credited with creating the Mesoamerican calendar, the ball game, and writing. All of these practices were adopted by the Maya and Aztecs and became staples of their cultures.
I wonder if the Olmec people were the first to create statues? ALso, i wonder what the Olmec people looked like, since the Aztec called them "rubber people"
-Kyla Thomas
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