History of Olmec Civilization

Who were the Olmecs? Little is know of them but they are believed to have been the first civilization to have a written language, cultivated and utilized the cacao tree, and generally were the forerunners of subsequent inhabitants of Mexico.

The first relatively modern awakening to the existence of the Olmecs was when plantation workers in 1862 came upon hat they thought was a large, buried, iron kettle. Upon further excavation, and driven by thoughts of buried treasure, they finally excavated a huge stone carved head, which turned out to be the first Olmec sculpture to be discovered in Mexico.

OLMEC ORIGINS.
Who were the Olmecs? What is known about them is that they preceded the Mayans in Mesoamaerica, and are thought to be the foundation of all subsequent cultures in that part of the Americas, though there is evidence of humans going back to 20,000 B.C. There will always be differing opinions when it comes to dates, but the Olmes are believed to have originated in around 1250 B.C. and disappeared around 400 B.C. A common feature with theirs and later civilizations were that they:

Followed a 365 day year.
Built pyramids.
Cultivated corn.
All had similar religious rituals and the same Gods of fertility, war, sky & nature.