Just a century before nobody knew the Olmecs. The name Olmec was completely unheard of. But today they are regarded as the precursors of the American civilization that came into full bloom with the Mayas.
Thanks to the intensive research by the archaeologists, the world knows quite a lot about the Mayas. But we hardly know anything about the Olmecs who influenced most of the Middle America from the 13thcentury till their disappearance 12 centuries later. If reasons for their downfall are unearthed then perhaps, our knowledge about the American Civilization will be more accurate and precise.
The civilization of Olmecs started at a very odd, unpromising territory - Gulf of Mexico. This low lying, swampy ground was covered with jungles and was often flooded. Despite such geographical shortcomings the Olmecs created the first accountable ceremonial centers of Middle America at this place. They not only created but lived harmoniously for 12 centuries.
Surprisingly, till now only four centers have been explored. These four sites are Laguna de los Ceros, San Lorenzo, Tres Zapates and La Venta. These areas are surrounded by forested plains which have many rubber trees. These rubber trees are called Ollin by the natives. Perhaps from Ollin was derived the name Olmec.
Archaeologists assume that la Venta must have been the largest religious center at the height of the Olmec civilization between 800-500 B.C. The architecture of this area foreshadows the town planning of pre-Columbian Mexico. Olmecs built a small stepped pyramid with a quadrangle in front of it. The four corners were edged with basalt pillars. Nearby this pyramid are the two parallel mounds which form the boundary of the oldest sacred ball game court in the Americas. This complex appears like a model of a large man-made volcano. The scholars believe that it must have been constructed to be used as burial ground.
Inside these complexes are the carved stone slabs with richly decorated altars and huge basalt heads. This indeed is the most striking art work of the Olmecs. The facial features of the heads are unique. The heads are flattened with thick heavy lips, drawn corners, short and broad nose and slit eyes. Such odd admixture of facial characteristics has even astonished anthropologists. They cannot establish their origin.
However, after seeing the remains one cannot question the Olmecs' credentials as great sculptors. A green stone statue has been excavated in a Mexican village. This statue depicts a Virgin and a Child. In fact this statue is an eighth century B.C. Olmec carving as it shows a male figure carrying one of the Olmec Gods. Scholars assume that it must be the rain God.
A similar sculpture has been found at the basalt pillar. In this sculpture a monkey like face is looking up at the sky. It is still an enigma that who is this man and where is he looking? Is he a star worshiper? Or an astronomer? Is it a man or an animal? Some specialists have suggested that often Olmec Gods took the form of a half human, half jaguar figure. The markings on the dace and limbs together with the thick drooping lips and slit eyes seem to be the special features of the Olmec sculpture.
A group of statues have been discovered at la Venta. These statues made a jade and serpentine are about 8 inches tall. They are facing a statue made of red stone. We still do not know about the central statue - whether he is a priest or a prisoner on the point of being executed. The exact meaning of these statues is still a mystery.
These are not the extremes of their remarkable art. A figure seated in an alcove in the front of a basalt altar is made from a single block of stone. Another man with a crown is holding a rope which is around the wrist of a figure shown on the altar. This figure is probably the prisoner who is being taken to be sacrificed to the Olmec Gods. The alcove, scholars assume, may be depicting the open jaws of the Jaguar God.
The skill which Olmec artists brought to carving colossal works can also be seen in tiny figures like the well known statue of the "weeping child". It is just five inches high, and is made up of jade, a favorite material of the Olmecs. The head is disproportionately large in respect to the body. Olmecs often depicted a baby in their art, although sometimes with the features of a jaguar.
The stone slab, called King's Stele, comes from the Olmec religious center of La Venta. It is about a feet high and shows several figures in bas-relief. Perhaps, the figures surrounding this warrior king are vassals who have come to pay homage in token of submission.
Seemingly, Olmec artists were also being very fond of carving huge heads from a single block of basalt. This basalt weighed about 18 tons. Archaeologists have found 14 such heads. The largest one weighs 30 tons and is more than 10 ft. high. The blocks for this must have been carried on rafts by rivers from the quarries which were 60 miles away. This implies that there must have existed an efficient social organization. Archaeologists believe that these heads must have been of leaders.
Much different from all these sculptures is the sculpture of a "wrestler". It is made up of porous stone and is considered to be one of the masterpieces old pre-Columbian sculpture. Thus, Olmec sculptors were capable of making various figures. They were original and creative in their works.
Nonetheless, Olmecs were not only great sculptors. They were also great carvers of jade. And towards the eclipse of their history they developed interest in mathematics and in the calendar. A few scholars also believe that they originally developed the system of writing numbers which Mayas inherited.
Despite having such a remarkable civilization, the Olmecs collapsed. And they disappeared so completely that we are not led with any account of their downfall. Perhaps, had we known the reason of their downfall, our knowledge about American pre-history would have been more refined.
