⏳ San Lorenzo on the Coatzacoalcos River was the first major Olmec city, with evidence by 1800 BCE and full community by 1400-1200 BCE. La Venta rose around 900 BCE and lasted to c. 500-400 BCE. Tres Zapotes then became the epi-Olmec capital, with occupation persisting well beyond 300 CE before gradually declining due to environmental and social factors.
Timeline and fall of Olmec civilization: San Lorenzo to Tres Zapotes
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Key facts
- San Lorenzo, on the Coatzacoalcos River, was the first major Olmec city with evidence dating to 1800 BCE and full community by 1400-1200 BCE
- San Lorenzo is the only early formative site producing colossal heads; it faded around 900 BCE
- La Venta, to the west of San Lorenzo, rose around 900 BCE and lasted until about 500-400 BCE; it featured the first Olmec pyramid
- San Lorenzo's decline may relate to its reliance on fishing/aquaculture rather than corn farming
- Tres Zapotes, on the opposite side of the basalt-source volcano, became the epi-Olmec capital from about 500-400 BCE and continued until about 300 CE
- Tres Zapotes colossal head platforms have foundations dated to about 400 BCE
- A volcanic eruption around 300 CE covered Tres Zapotes in ash, causing tree death and mudslides that buried the site
- Epi-Olmec sites at Tres Zapotes produced the first Olmec writing and elaborated calendar systems
Site mentioned
Sources
Smart Traveler's Guide To The Olmec Heads - Caravan Tourscaravan.com
San Lorenzo Colossal Head 5, at the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology, is recognized for its nuanced facial expression, possibly showing consternation or grit.
Olmec colossal heads - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
San Lorenzo ; high; it measures 1.65 metres (5.4 ; wide by 1.6 metres (5.2 ; deep and weighs 13 tons. · It is one of the finest examples of an Olmec colossal head.
Olmec Colossal Heads - Smarthistorysmarthistory.org
16 heads, ranging from 1.47 m to 3.4 m in height and weighing between 6 and 25.3 tons, have been recovered from the three main Olmec ...
San Lorenzo | Ancient City, Facts, Olmec, & Colossal Heads - Britannicabritannica.com
The site is most noted for its extraordinary stone monuments, especially the “colossal heads” measuring up to 9 feet (more than 2.5 meters) in ...
The San Lorenzo Head in Houston - HistoricalMXhistoricalmx.org
According to the Houston Chronicle, the colossal Olmec head from the San Lorenzo archaeological site in Veracruz, Mexico, named San Lorenzo Head no. 2 ...
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