The Olmec and The Gulf Coast ANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of Mexico Kimberly Martin, Ph.D.
Culture Heartland in Mexico
Overview of Pre Classic Sites Also called Formative Sites
The Olmec Writing Long Count Calendar Concept of Zero Blood Sacrifices (?) Ceremonial Cities Monumental Architecture Possible Inventors of MesoAmerican Ball Game Domesticated dogs Forerunners of MesoAmerican gods Hugely influential for all cultures that followed in MesoAmerica
Social Classes Three to four classes – indicated by houseforms – Kings with stone houses inside the monumental architecture zone – Hamlets outside the architectural zone – Farmsteds farther out.
Religion Feathered Serpent Man of Crops Werejaguars
Human Sacrifice ? Stingray spikes and clay instruments used in blood-letting/sacrifice in later periods are found Disarticulated human skeletons may indicate human sacrifice Complete skeletons of newborn or unborn children may indicate infant sacrifice No direct evidence of sacrifice
SymbolsSymbols First writing system in North America - Controversial stone tablet found in CascajalBlockCascajalBlock
Long Count Calendar day months plus 5 days (Base 20 System) Stella C Tres Zapotes corresponds with September 3, 32 BCE Other glyphs are considered early writing symbols.
Concept of Zero Used in the Long Count Calendar May have been first invented in new world. Represented by a shell glyph: For More Information
Olmec Heartland
Monumental Architecture North-South Alignment Clay and logs with occasional basalt columns from the Tuxtla Mountains Colored clays used for floors Structures “painted” red, yellow and purple Mosaic pavements made from serpentine stone
Major Sites El Manati San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan La Venta Tres Zapotes Early phases egalitarian, hunting and gathering Later phases highly stratified with agriculture, ceremonial centers, monumental architecture, writing, calendar. Signs of a well developed trade network – Eg. Jade from Guatemala is found throughout Gulf Coase
El Manati Oldest PreClassic Site on the Gulf Coast Before 1750 BCE Bog environment with anaerobic preservation. Rubber balls Wooden Figures Jadeite axes Beads Obsidian blades
El Manati
El Manati Figurines
San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan 1200 BC – 900 BC (Vera Cruz) – Ceremonial center Perhaps 5000 residents – Agricultural area Population of perhaps 10, ,000 – Carved stone drainage system – Ten carved stone heads Stone from 60 miles away in the Tuxtla Mts. – Carved stone thrones with names on the sides
La Venta Island settlement – Vera Cruz and Tobasco 1750 BCE Early Occupation – Villages growing maize From 1000 BC Olmec Culture – More than 18,000 population – Great Pyramid (30 meters tall) 800,000 person days to construct – Giant stone head monuments Abandoned at about 400 BCE
La Venta
La Venta Temple Mound
La Venta Site Plan
La Venta
La Venta Heads
Altars/Thrones
Links BBC Documentary on Stone Sculpture EmR2PW4&feature=related ( video 18 min) EmR2PW4&feature=related New Olmec Site Discovered s/2007/01/ mexico-olmec.html (article) s/2007/01/ mexico-olmec.html
Classic and Post-Classic Periods Classic Veracruz – El Tajin Most important Classic and Post-Classic Veracruz site In the northern part of the region 17 ball courts Unique architecture and art styles not found anywhere else in Mesoamerica.
Classic Veracruz
Ball Game Played in I Shaped Court Used a hard rubber ball which could played only by the elbow, knee or hip 2 teams on either side of a center line To win: team had to pass the ball thru the stone ring on the wall of the court the most times Losing team (or losing team leader) often sacrificed ?
Mesoamerican Ball Game
Ball Court Sacrifice Carvings
El Tajin Central Zone
Pyramid of the Niches
El Tajin El Tajin Palmas Carved Yoke Ball Game Attire