Which Mesoamerican civilization, flourishing in the tropical lowlands of modern-day Mexico between 1200 and 400 BCE, is regarded as the 'mother culture' of Mesoamerica, famous for carving colossal basalt heads?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: C. Olmec
- Step 1: Centering at major ceremonial sites like San Lorenzo and La Venta along the Gulf of Mexico in Veracruz and Tabasco, the Olmecs established early urban complexes.
- Step 2: They created the earliest monumental art in the Americas, including 17 known colossal stone portrait heads weighing up to 40 tonnes, and introduced ritual ballgames and jade carving to the region.
Answer
Olmec
Why not the others: 'Toltec' The Toltecs flourished much later (900–1150 CE) in central Mexico, based at their capital Tollan (Tula); 'Aztec' The Aztecs (Mexica) built Tenochtitlan in the 14th century CE, centuries after the Olmecs; 'Zapotec' The Zapotecs built Monte Albán in Oaxaca from roughly 500 BCE onward, influenced by but distinct from the lowland Olmecs.
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