Transcript The first civilization of Mexico Initial Formative The Olmec

The first civilization
of Mexico
Initial Formative
The Olmec
Preclassic Olmec-style figure. Veracruz.
Agenda
Understanding social complexity
Olmec foundations
art
architecture
spiritual world
Initial Formative
c.2000-1200 BC
During the Formative period agriculture
and village life became established in the
Isthmus of Tehuantepec.
Early sites of importance include San Jose
Magote in the Valley of Oaxaca and at
Tierras Largas
Olmec culture in the Late Formative has
all the elements of a mature culture: art
styles, developed pottery, and
architecturally impressive ceremonial
centers, rubber …but who set the stage?
Before the Olmec, cultural groups began
to organize around a central village.
“Chiefdom”
Villages clustered
Implications:
around central village
centralized authority
Central village has
disparities in wealth
civic/ceremonial
measured in material
structures
goods and access to
luxury items
central village has
larger population than social and economic
surrounding villages
disparities
Technology
Essentially neolithic; highly refined lithic tool kits
based on mass produced blades/trade
pottery: numerous vessel forms suggesting
specialized purposes
jewelry of precious metals and stone (jaditie)
house construction
stone civic architecture
Shared material culture traits
Stylistic variations in pottery help
archaeologists locate culture spread,
relationships and associations.
Artistic motifs in painting, design, and
manufacture also provide evidence.
Similar deities and modes of homage
indicate associations.
San Jose Magote
1150-850 BC (overlaps with early Olmec)
Large scale village in Oaxaca Valley
well made houses with stone foundation,
wood frame and mud plaster with
thatched roof on artificial platform(see page
123)
Ceremonial center of similar construction.
Important Olmec sites
San Lorenzo (1200-900 BC)
La Venta (900-400 BC)
several lesser sites
La Venta
platform
and plaza
Olmec achievements
Invent rubber
among the finest
sculptors in history
design stone
architecture with
emphasis on celestial
orientation
imported stone over
long distance
Complex social and
religious order
milpa agriculture
jade trade
evidence of complex
structures of
authority
Olmec mysteries
Colossal heads
carved figures…controversy (Who? Why?)
Ball game
ritual significance
Jaguar cult
anthrpomorphic babies in sculpture

See pages 142-143
Anthropomorphic axe.
Jadite. Provenance not
well established.
Jaguar and human baby
composite. Common
theme.
Recent considerations
Cranial deformation
Twin worship / duality
Relationship between Olmec and Zapotec
at Monte Alban?
Cache of figures as found
in ritual position. La
Venta.
Deeply buried, figures
standing near polished
jade axes. Approx. 8
inches tall.
Evidence of cranial
deformation.
How shall we interpret
this scene?
Deformation brought
about by binding the
skull shortly after
birth while skull is
still soft and
maintaining for a
couple years.
Cranial deformation
Also found among Maya; Nazca in Peru
Some evidence that it was isolated to
those of elite status, not the whole
population.
We can not say with certainty it was a
mark of beauty.
Preclassic style
pottery figurine,
from Tlatilco,
Mexico City.
Comparative
figurine.