The first civilization of Mexico Initial Formative The Olmec
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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.