Olmec Civilization   by Mark Cartwright published on 30 August
2013  The mysterious Olmec civilization prospered in Pre-
Classical (Formative) Mesoamerica from c. 1200 BCE to c. 400 BCE
and is generally considered the forerunner of all subsequent
Mesoamerican cultures such as the Maya and Aztecs. Centred in
the Gulf of Mexico (now the states of Veracruz and Tabasco)
their influence and trade activity spread from 1200 BCE, even
reaching as far south as present-day Nicaragua. Monumental
sacred complexes, massive stone sculpture, ball games, chocolate
drinking and animal gods were features of Olmec culture which
would be passed on to all those who followed this first great
Mesoamerican civilization.  An Enigma  The Olmec civilization
presents something of a mystery, indeed, we do not even know
what they called themselves, as ‘Olmec’ was their Aztec name and
meant ‘rubber people’. Due to a lack of archaeological evidence
their ethnic origins and the location and extent of many of
their settlements are not known. T