Olmec

views updated Jun 27 2018

Olmec Early civilization of Central America, which flourished between the 12th and 4th centuries bc. Its heartland was the s coast of the Gulf of Mexico, but its influence spread more widely. From the 9th century bc, the main Olmec centre was La Venta. Olmec art included high-quality carving of jade and stone, notably giant human heads in basalt. The Olmec heritage can be traced through later civilizations, including the Maya.