The Olmec were a Pre-Columbian civilization living in the tropical lowlands of south-central Mexico, near the modern-day Mexican cities of Veracruz and Tabasco.
The Olmec flourished during Mesoamerica's Formative period, dating roughly from as early as 1500 BCE to about 400 BCE. They were the first Mesoamerican civilization and laid many of the foundations for the civilizations that followed.
The most familiar aspect of the Olmecs is their artwork, particularly the aptly-named "colossal heads".
