3 101 x A post established by the Olmec at one end of a major route through the mountains from Guerrero to the plains of Morelos, at the other end of which was the major Olmec settlement of Chalcatzingo. The site is strategically placed to control the movements of people and goods from mineral rich Guerrero.
# Las Bocas, Interesting material from here
4 103 C Chalchuapa was one of the most distant Olmec outposts, probably established to control the supply of the important products of the southern periphery: cacao, haematite (iron ore) and obsidian. The site has a huge pyramid and many Olmec figurines of jade and serpentine (another type of green stone).
# Chalchuapa, Pyramid or some nice figurine
5 0 42 9
#IW Teopantecuanitlan
6 101 x A large, short-lived industrial settlement producing obsidian (volcanic glass). Domestic material at the site parallels that from San Lorenzo, suggesting that this was an early Olmec trading outpost. Its abandonment in the main Olmec period shows that after 900 BC, this region was strong enough to compete on equal terms with the Olmec.
# Coapexco, Obsidian blade from Coapexco
7 101 x The Olmec seem not to have been much involved with the Maya lowlands, but at a few sites Olmec material has been found. At Seibal, for example, a cache of Olmec objects were arranged in a cruciform pattern, like those at La Venta; these included a jade perforator for ritual bloodletting.
# Seibal, jade perforator from Seibal
8 101 x A small version of an Olmec stone were-jaguar head was found at this site along with a number of earthen mounds reminiscent of Olmec ceremonial centres. This site has also yielded early examples of Mesoamerican writing with dates.
# Abaj Takalik
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#IW Olmec Outliers
10 101 x Traded materials @ The early civilizations of Mesoamerica flourished on widespread trade with each other and with neighbouring areas. Trading networks had operated for thousands of years, distributing the products of each region across the whole area. These included essential raw materials such as stone for making tools (metal-working was unknown at this time), and objects and materials indicating status or required for ritual activities - these included conch shell trumpets and haematite (iron ore) mirrors.
