The Olmecs are often regarded as the first significant civilization in Mesoamerica, a region that includes parts of modern-day Mexico and Central America. They emerged in the tropical lowlands of what is now the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco, following a gradual development in the Soconusco region. It is believed that the Olmecs were influenced by neighboring cultures, particularly the Mokaya and Mixe–Zoque tribes, who inhabited the areas around them. These early interactions may have played a role in shaping Olmec society, laying the foundation for their eventual rise as one of the most influential cultures in Mesoamerican history.


The Olmecs flourished during the formative period of Mesoamerican civilization, which lasted from approximately 1500 BCE to 400 BCE. The early phase of Olmec culture began around 1600 BCE, with the establishment of their first major center at San Lorenzo Tenochtitlán, located in the southeastern Veracruz region near the coast. While pre-Olmec cultures had been developing in the region since around 2500 BCE, it was by 1600 BCE that the Olmecs began to solidify their cultural and political dominance in the region. They are considered the earliest of the Mesoamerican civilizations, and their cultural achievements and innovations would influence many of the civilizations that followed, including the Maya, Zapotec, and Aztec.