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Please give a brief definition of who the Olmecs were, and what they did, and what they are known for.

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Many archeologists believe that the Olmecs were the earliest people to settle down on Americas. The Olmecs lived throughout 1200 and 400 B.C. The Olmecs had a calendar, a form of writing, and worshipped nature spirits.


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User Carl Minden
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So the Olmecs are considered the 1st great Mezoamerican civilization who lived from 1200 - 400 BCE. They're know as the "rubber people" because they were able to extract rubber from rubber trees. Some of the greatest things the Olmecs were known for were the huge, stone heads they carved and portraits of their rulers. They were interested in astronomy, not to be confused with astrology, as they would build their cities aligned with certain constellations. They did use glyphs, or hieroglyphics, on stones and dedicated monuments, pyramids, and tombs to their emperors and gods.


User CaTx
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