1500 B.C.-300 B.C.
n the pre-Classic era, the origins of high urban culture emerged along the southern arc of the Gulf of Mexico in the area that today is Veracruz and Tabasco. In the jungles beneath green volcanic ranges, the Olmecs forged a culture that was to have lasting impact on all Mesoamerican cultures to follow. They left behind evidence of the first planned ceremonial centers, a network of trade relations, hierogylphic writing, and a dynamic tradition of sculpture. The influence of Olmec culture extended from central Mexico down into Central America.
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Pre-Classic Period