by Daniel Nardini
Within the last few years, Mexican archaeologists discovered something that will help rewrite the history of Olmec civilization. The Olmecs, the oldest known peoples in what is now Mexico, had primarily inhabited what are the the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Some Olmec sites have been found beyond that in central Mexico, but for the most part they have inhabited the southern part of Mexico in the era known as the Pre-Classical Period. However, archaeologists have discovered a 1.5 ton relief filled with Olmec writing. Rarely had Olmec writing been found anywhere, let alone in the state of Morelos. The relief is believed to have been part of an even larger carved stone relief covering a whole hill at the archaeological site of Chalcatzingo. Was this part of a greater Olmec city site? We cannot be sure. What we can be sure of is that this writing dates back to between 800 BCE to about 500 BCE (rougly about 2,800 years ago), when the Olmecs inhabited the area.
One interesting feature of the wall relief is that three prominent cats are displayed—each looking a different direction. The Olmecs both feared and venerated cats. What exactly the wall relief means has yet to be deciphered. The greater mystery is what exactly happened to the Olmecs? This is still under investigation. According to the Chalcatzingo site, the Olmec presence began to disappear after 500 BCE. Did it have to do with climate change? Did it have to do with an invasion of another people? Did the Olmecs leave the area due to the erosion of the soil because of their agricultural practices? We only know that after 400 BCE, the Olmecs disappear as a people altogether. Their civilization, which emerged about 1800 BCE, suddenly disappeared after 400 BCE. Like the Mayans after them, we have yet to find key information of why the Olmecs disappeared from history.
Olmec 2,800 Year Old Stone Relief
by Daniel Nardini
Within the last few years, Mexican archaeologists discovered something that will help rewrite the history of Olmec civilization. The Olmecs, the oldest known peoples in what is now Mexico, had primarily inhabited what are the the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Some Olmec sites have been found beyond that in central Mexico, but for the most part they have inhabited the southern part of Mexico in the era known as the Pre-Classical Period. However, archaeologists have discovered a 1.5 ton relief filled with Olmec writing. Rarely had Olmec writing been found anywhere, let alone in the state of Morelos. The relief is believed to have been part of an even larger carved stone relief covering a whole hill at the archaeological site of Chalcatzingo. Was this part of a greater Olmec city site? We cannot be sure. What we can be sure of is that this writing dates back to between 800 BCE to about 500 BCE (rougly about 2,800 years ago), when the Olmecs inhabited the area.
One interesting feature of the wall relief is that three prominent cats are displayed—each looking a different direction. The Olmecs both feared and venerated cats. What exactly the wall relief means has yet to be deciphered. The greater mystery is what exactly happened to the Olmecs? This is still under investigation. According to the Chalcatzingo site, the Olmec presence began to disappear after 500 BCE. Did it have to do with climate change? Did it have to do with an invasion of another people? Did the Olmecs leave the area due to the erosion of the soil because of their agricultural practices? We only know that after 400 BCE, the Olmecs disappear as a people altogether. Their civilization, which emerged about 1800 BCE, suddenly disappeared after 400 BCE. Like the Mayans after them, we have yet to find key information of why the Olmecs disappeared from history.