The Olmecs are considered Mexico's first major civilization, laying the foundation for later Mesoamerican cultures. They inhabited the Gulf Coast region, mainly in present-day Veracruz and Tabasco. • The Olmecs are best known for their colossal stone heads, which were carved from basalt rock and believed to represent rulers or deities. Some of these heads are over 9 feet (3 meters) tall and weigh several tons. • They developed early hieroglyphic writing and a calendar system, influencing later civilizations like the Maya. • The Olmecs also played the Mesoamerican ball game, a ritualistic sport that continued for centuries in various cultures. • The civilization mysteriously declined around 400 BCE, but its religious and artistic traditions influenced later societies.
