A Little Mesoamerican History

The earliest major culture we know of in this area is called Olmec. They seemed to have been centered in the southern part of the modern state of Veracruz, and the state of Tabasco around La Venta The Olmec are best known for giant stone heads and they seem to have introduced their dot and bar numerals to the rest of mesoamerica.

The next significant culture related to El Tajin may be Teotihuacan (North of Mexico City). This is also the period of the development of Monte Alban in Oaxaca and the pre classic Maya in Yucatan.

By 200 AD archeological history picks up in central Veracruz. The period from 200 AD to 900 AD may be less well known, but the Classic Veracruz people left behind some very interesting ceramics. The Remojadas / Classic Veracruz period is best known for the laughing figures (other images surviving from ancient Mexico are of stern warriors) The wheeled animal figures appear during this period --yes, they knew about the wheel! Another type of figure found in Veracruz were the large clay figures where parts were painted with black tar.

Then around 900 AD we find the period of El Tajin. The El Tajin period ended with its burning around 1200 AD. (Comparative note: By this time the mound building cultures in the Mississippi valley in the US were in full swing.)

I would recommend going to Buildings and/or Time and Place next.
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