ANTH100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Mesoamerican Chronology, Olmec Colossal Heads
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Document Summary
Olmec rubber people: name came from their affinity for extracting latex from plants to make rubber goods, in particular, the rubber ball for their ball game . Extracted cocoa beans to make chocolate drink which was used for ritual and traditional purposes. Domesticated corn, beans, squash, and turkeys: as with other new world civilizations, after domestication surpluses could be gathered which allowed populations to grow. By 1200bc there were 5 major cities (marked on map in slideshow) Colossal (up to 3m) head statues; 10 of them. San lorenzo was built on a plateau within a river floodplain so they avoided flood damage and had successful agriculture in surrounding areas. Palace area and houses for commoners surrounding it. Were a clean society; they disposed of waste in landfills which provides good archaeological evidence: fish, turtle, deer were primary food sources. Cascajal stone first evidence of writing among the olmecs; cannot be decoded. Around 1,000bc san lorenzo declines as la venta grows.
