The Olmec Geography and Ecology Art and Technology Socio-Political Structure Religion Important...

The OlmecThe OlmecGeography and EcologyGeography and Ecology

Art and TechnologyArt and TechnologySocio-Political StructureSocio-Political Structure

ReligionReligionImportant SitesImportant Sites

Who were the Olmec?Who were the Olmec?

Studies began in early 1900sStudies began in early 1900s– 1939 Matthew Stirling was sent by the 1939 Matthew Stirling was sent by the

Smithsonian and National Geographic to Smithsonian and National Geographic to investigate giant stone carvings. investigate giant stone carvings.

Olmec means “dweller in the land of Olmec means “dweller in the land of rubber”, refers to people who lived along rubber”, refers to people who lived along Gulf of Mexico, southern Veracruz, and Gulf of Mexico, southern Veracruz, and western Tabasco.western Tabasco.

Olmec lived in this area between 1500 B.C. Olmec lived in this area between 1500 B.C. and 100 A.D.and 100 A.D.

Characteristic TraitsCharacteristic Traits

Building of clay pyramids and temple Building of clay pyramids and temple moundsmounds

Particular sculptural styleParticular sculptural style– weeping or snarling jaguar/human infantweeping or snarling jaguar/human infant– were-jaguarwere-jaguar– colossal headscolossal heads– basalt monumentsbasalt monuments– fine jade carvingfine jade carving

Basic Mesoamerican civilization?Basic Mesoamerican civilization?

Artifacts with Olmec traits found in Artifacts with Olmec traits found in preclassic horizons throughout preclassic horizons throughout Mesoamerica.Mesoamerica.

““Cult of the Jaguar” considered a Cult of the Jaguar” considered a basic Olmec trait.basic Olmec trait.

Or-One of several “Sister” Or-One of several “Sister” Civilizations (such as in Western Civilizations (such as in Western Mesoamerica)?Mesoamerica)?

Evidence from PotteryEvidence from Pottery

Jeffrey P. Blomster examined pottery Jeffrey P. Blomster examined pottery samples from Mexico and Central America.samples from Mexico and Central America.

He found through chemical analysis of the He found through chemical analysis of the clays and potsherds that while other clays and potsherds that while other ancient settlements made pottery with ancient settlements made pottery with symbols and designs in the "Olmec style," symbols and designs in the "Olmec style," only the early Olmec themselves -- at San only the early Olmec themselves -- at San Lorenzo near Mexico's Gulf Coast -- Lorenzo near Mexico's Gulf Coast -- exported their pottery. exported their pottery.

This suggests that Olmec was “mother This suggests that Olmec was “mother culture”.culture”.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A32926-2005Feb17.html

Pottery at EtlatongoPottery at Etlatongo

Pottery is made from Clay found at San Lorenzo. Excavated by Jeffrey Blomster and colleagues.

www.archaeology.org/online/features/olmec/

Map of MesoamericaMap of Mesoamerica

http://mexico.udg.mx/historia/precolombinas/ingles/olmecas/

Geography and Ecology of Geography and Ecology of Olmec AreaOlmec Area

Located in southern Veracruz and Tabasco Located in southern Veracruz and Tabasco Olmec zone is about 125 mi long and 50 wide Olmec zone is about 125 mi long and 50 wide High rainfall - over 300 cm/year High rainfall - over 300 cm/year Dense tropical forest Dense tropical forest Limited on west by Bay of Alvarado and Rio Limited on west by Bay of Alvarado and Rio

Papaloapan Papaloapan Limited on east by the Rio Grijalva-Mezcalapa and Limited on east by the Rio Grijalva-Mezcalapa and

the swampy Chontalpa lowlands the swampy Chontalpa lowlands limited on south by uplands of the Isthmus of limited on south by uplands of the Isthmus of

Tehuantepec Tehuantepec Coatzalcoalcos river system in the middle Coatzalcoalcos river system in the middle Volcanic upthrust of the Sierra de los Tuxtlas Volcanic upthrust of the Sierra de los Tuxtlas

ArtArt Jade Jade

– carved with techniques such as drilling, carved with techniques such as drilling, string-sawing, and incising string-sawing, and incising

– blue-green color blue-green color – until recently, more were known from until recently, more were known from

Guerrero than heartlandGuerrero than heartland Stingray spines Stingray spines

– real and jade real and jade – "icepicks" or perforators "icepicks" or perforators

Clamshells Clamshells Ceramic babies Ceramic babies

Art Con’dArt Con’d

Mirrors Mirrors – made of polished iron ore (magnetite, made of polished iron ore (magnetite,

ilmenite, hematite) ilmenite, hematite) Sculpture Sculpture

– colossal heads colossal heads – thrones ("altars") thrones ("altars")

figures seated in cave mouths figures seated in cave mouths theme of royal descent (ruler with infant God theme of royal descent (ruler with infant God

IV) IV) forerunner of ceremonial bar? forerunner of ceremonial bar? theme of conquest (ruler grasping a rope with theme of conquest (ruler grasping a rope with

captive)captive)

JadeJade

Jade Axe Were-Jaguar Olmec Figure

http://isis.csuhayward.edu/dbsw/anthropology/miller/3250/03olmec/aolmec2.html#PHOTO%20GALLERY:

CeramicCeramic

Duck Figure Human Figure


Thrones/AltarsThrones/Altars

Altar #4 La Venta

Monument #19 La Venta

Altar #5 La Venta


Colossal HeadsColossal Heads

May represent simple series of local or May represent simple series of local or regional leaders regional leaders – San Lorenzo, with eight or more, is longest San Lorenzo, with eight or more, is longest

seriesseries– La Venta comes next with La Venta comes next with – Tres Zapotes is last with 2 Tres Zapotes is last with 2

subject to mutilation and destruction subject to mutilation and destruction sometimes buried sometimes buried largest found at head of arroyo in Tuxtlaslargest found at head of arroyo in Tuxtlas

Colossal HeadsColossal Heads

Colossal Head #10 Basalt San Lorenzo


““Mutilation”Mutilation”

Colossal Head #2 San Lorenzo

Colossal Head #5 San Lorenzo


Socio-Political StructureSocio-Political Structure ChiefdomChiefdom

– notion formulated by Julian Steward notion formulated by Julian Steward and Kalervo Oberg and Kalervo Oberg

– Sanders and Price were first to Sanders and Price were first to apply this term to Olmecs apply this term to Olmecs

– hierachically arranged society hierachically arranged society highest rank is that of the chief highest rank is that of the chief fewer status positions than those fewer status positions than those

available to fill them available to fill them intermediate step between egalitarian intermediate step between egalitarian

societies and states societies and states

ReligionReligion Continuity Hypothesis (Covarrubias) Continuity Hypothesis (Covarrubias)

– sees continuity from Olmec to Aztec sees continuity from Olmec to Aztec beliefs beliefs

– all or most images in Olmec art represent all or most images in Olmec art represent ancient rain deity ancient rain deity

– were-jaguar may be ancestral to Tlaloc were-jaguar may be ancestral to Tlaloc – suggests almost monotheistic system suggests almost monotheistic system

Stirling Hypothesis Stirling Hypothesis – myth of creatures with human and animal myth of creatures with human and animal

attributes attributes – Stirling noted Monument 3 at Potrero Stirling noted Monument 3 at Potrero

NuevoNuevo gigantic jaguar copulating with supine woman gigantic jaguar copulating with supine woman

– does not account for complexity of does not account for complexity of iconography iconography

Religion Con’dReligion Con’d

Astral Hypothesis (Mary Popenoe Hatch) Astral Hypothesis (Mary Popenoe Hatch) – many elements and combinations may refer to many elements and combinations may refer to

celestial bodies and events celestial bodies and events Las Limas Hypothesis (Coe and Joralemon) Las Limas Hypothesis (Coe and Joralemon)

– Coe recognized five representations of deity Coe recognized five representations of deity heads on figure from Las Limasheads on figure from Las Limas

– Joralemon defines ten deities, each of which Joralemon defines ten deities, each of which represented a cluster of discrete iconographic represented a cluster of discrete iconographic elements elements

– we know that many animals were important we know that many animals were important besides jaguar besides jaguar

rattlesnake, cayman/crocodile, toad rattlesnake, cayman/crocodile, toad

CalendarCalendar The epi-Olmec - from 31B.C. - the The epi-Olmec - from 31B.C. - the

peoples who subsequently inhabited peoples who subsequently inhabited the same lands and were probably the same lands and were probably descended at least in part from the descended at least in part from the Olmec, seem to have been the Olmec, seem to have been the earliest users of the earliest users of the bar and dot bar and dot systemsystem of recording time. of recording time.

The low relief on this stone shows The low relief on this stone shows the detail from a four-digit the detail from a four-digit numerical recording, read as numerical recording, read as 15.6.16.18. The vigesimal (or base-15.6.16.18. The vigesimal (or base-20) counting system has been used 20) counting system has been used across Mesoamerica. across Mesoamerica.

A value of 5 is represented by a bar, A value of 5 is represented by a bar, and a value of 1 is represented by a and a value of 1 is represented by a dot, such that the three bars and dot, such that the three bars and single dot here stands for 16. The single dot here stands for 16. The Maya would later adopt this Maya would later adopt this counting system for their Long counting system for their Long Count calendar. The date in this Count calendar. The date in this relief is the oldest recorded date in relief is the oldest recorded date in Mesoamerica, corresponding to a Mesoamerica, corresponding to a day in the year 31 B.C. day in the year 31 B.C.

Detail of Long Count DateDetail of Long Count Datehttp://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.htmlhttp://www.crystalinks.com/olmec.html

Important sites includedImportant sites included

San LorenzoSan Lorenzo Tres ZapotesTres Zapotes ChalcatzingoChalcatzingo La VentaLa Venta

San Lorenzo, VeracruzSan Lorenzo, Veracruz

Oldest Olmec siteOldest Olmec site– Occupied by 1500 B.C.Occupied by 1500 B.C.– Pottery found from earliest periodPottery found from earliest period

Monumental sculptures not until 1250 B.C.Monumental sculptures not until 1250 B.C.– Carved from basalt which was floated on huge Carved from basalt which was floated on huge

rafts from the Tuxtla mountains.rafts from the Tuxtla mountains.– Ended around 900 B.C., and all monoliths Ended around 900 B.C., and all monoliths

intentionally mutilated or buried.intentionally mutilated or buried.– Thought to have been a revolt by the people Thought to have been a revolt by the people

who moved the stone to San Lorenzo and built who moved the stone to San Lorenzo and built the mounds.the mounds.

San Lorenzo SculptureSan Lorenzo Sculpture

Monument 52

San Lorenzo

Figure #34 Basalt San Lorenzo

Tres ZapotesTres Zapotes Geography Geography

– in swampy basin formed by Rio Papaloapan in swampy basin formed by Rio Papaloapan Stone sculpture Stone sculpture

– colossal heads colossal heads – stelae stelae

Stela C - Long Count date and hieroglyphs Stela C - Long Count date and hieroglyphs (discovered by Stirling, fragmentary basalt (discovered by Stirling, fragmentary basalt monument, abstract, derivative were-jaguar on one monument, abstract, derivative were-jaguar on one side, one of oldest dated monuments in the New side, one of oldest dated monuments in the New World) World)

inscriptions are among earliest examples of writing inscriptions are among earliest examples of writing 25 life-sized jade masks 25 life-sized jade masks

– young, middle-aged, and aged versions of same young, middle-aged, and aged versions of same individual individual

– probably represent leadersprobably represent leaders– hundreds of jade or serpentine celts hundreds of jade or serpentine celts – assortment of other objects assortment of other objects

ChalcatzingoChalcatzingo Geography Geography

– located in highlands of Morelos located in highlands of Morelos Monuments Monuments

– Monument 1: ruler in cave or monster mouth Monument 1: ruler in cave or monster mouth – raindrops from clouds raindrops from clouds

Burials Burials – in crypts in crypts – accompanied with jade earspools, pendants, necklaces, accompanied with jade earspools, pendants, necklaces,

and La Venta-style figurines and La Venta-style figurines Life at Chalcatzingo Life at Chalcatzingo

– farming on artificial terraces farming on artificial terraces – deer and rabbit hunted deer and rabbit hunted – dog was most prominent food animal dog was most prominent food animal

Nature of Olmex presence Nature of Olmex presence – Olmec may have entered for long-distance trade Olmec may have entered for long-distance trade – first occupied ca. 1500 BC, reached its height from 700-first occupied ca. 1500 BC, reached its height from 700-

500 BC500 BC

Located in the eastern part of the state of Morelos, three peaks rise from the nearly flat valley floor. These isolated, igneous intrusions rise over 300 m above the valley floor, and must have been considered sacred in ancient times, as they were by the Aztecs and even by the modern villagers. This place is called Chalcatzingo, a Nahuatl name that means "the revered or appreciated place of the Chalcas".

http://instructional1.calstatela.edu/bevans/Art446-01-Olmec/WebPage-Full.00021.html

Monument 9 was found by looters, apparently atop the "Plaza Central" structure 4. This sculpture repeats the earth-monster motif of "El Rey" and "The Governor", here manifested with a full-faced cruciform-shaped mouth. From the clefts on the exterior of the mouth, bromeliad-like plants again grow.


The most striking carving in Chalcatzingo is known locally as "El Rey," a representation of an enthroned ruler, although it is not clear if it is male or female. "El Rey" seated within the Earth-monster's mouth has been identified as a rain deity or the God of the Mountain. The whole sequence of the reliefs may represent the collaboration of the clan groups, each one related to natural elements, in their petitions through prayers and ritual to bring the rain clouds from to the mountain of Chalcatzingo, in a ceremony associated with fertility.


The relief shows a realistic squash plant that has its vines, leaves, and young fruits. About 61 cms. from this plant there is a small rectangular cavity cut out of the bedrock. It was intended for collecting rain or receiving dedicatory water. The placement of water at the foot of the squash plants implies that imitative magic was the reason the cavity is close to the carving.


Monument 31: Jaguar as symbol of power and fertilityMonument 31: Jaguar as symbol of power and fertility


La Venta, TabascoLa Venta, Tabasco

Contemporaneous to later phases of San Contemporaneous to later phases of San Lorenzo and persisting longer.Lorenzo and persisting longer.– Oriented on a n-s axis on an island in the Rio Oriented on a n-s axis on an island in the Rio

TonalaTonala– Includes mounds, plazas, tombs, basalt slab Includes mounds, plazas, tombs, basalt slab

enclosures, and a clay pyramid.enclosures, and a clay pyramid.– Buried stone offeringsBuried stone offerings

jade and serpentine celtsjade and serpentine celts colored clay floorscolored clay floors mosaicsmosaics jaguar masksjaguar masks stone figurinesstone figurines

La Venta. c.1000 BC La Venta. c.1000 BC

•Although modern La Venta is an "island" of high ground surrounded by marshes, the Olmec capital occupied a ridge overlooking the then active Rio Palma River.

•During the 400 or 500 year occupation of the site, both monumental architecture and earthworks of colored clays and imported stones were completed.


Jade mosaic mask representing a stylized Jade mosaic mask representing a stylized jaguar. c. 1000 BCjaguar. c. 1000 BC


Basalt tomb. c.1000 BCBasalt tomb. c.1000 BC

This tomb constructed with giant basalt columns in the form of a subterranean "log house" contained the red-pigment-impregnated remains of two infants accompanied by a rich offering of jade figurines and jewelry. The basalt columns are carved in a way that simulates wooden posts.


End of Olmec?End of Olmec?

Around 600 B.C. building and Around 600 B.C. building and expansion of Olmecs ended.expansion of Olmecs ended.– Revolution of working class?Revolution of working class?– External pressures?External pressures?

The Olmec Geography and Ecology Art and Technology Socio-Political Structure Religion Important...

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