Blog #2: Mystery Mother Culture in Mesoamerica

Mystery Mother Culture in Mesoamerica

    So every one is heard of the Aztecs and Mayans. Mesoamerican cultures, that they themselves are shrouded with mystery. But no one has heard of the culture that came before them. "The Olmecs." No one actually knows who they were, accept where they inhabited, and what relics, and artifacts that were left behind. In fact the word Olmec/Omectl actually means rubber. Therefore they've also been coined the name "Rubber People". 

    The Olmecs were the earliest advanced Mesoamerican culture to rise about 1600 BCE to around 350 BCE. The Olmecs where mainly know for these massive stone heads found across the lands they inhabited. But they also had a writing system, art, alters, steles, and their own religion. In fact, the infamous Mayan Calendrer comes from the Olmecs. There have been two major schools of thought with what happened to the Olmecs, but it's widely believed the Olmecs have influenced the Aztecs, and the Mayan, appearing centuries after the Olmecs. 

      It's time for some controversy. With mystery surrounding ancient civilizations, the Olmecs are no acceptation. It's theorized that oddity of the massive stone heads is influenced by Polynesian or African features. I personally don't see it, having seen some beefy Mexicans with similar resemblance to these stone heads. It's not all impossible for these heads to be created with Mesoamerican hands. But the theories suggest that African, or Polynesian cultures were prevalent in ancient Mesoamerica, and these massive stone heads are the proof. 

    But the fact remains we still don't have a clear picture of who were these people. The lack of research in that area doesn't help these conspiracy theories either. But thousands of miles away in the Amazon Rainforest, research is being conducted and new-ish controversial information is being brought to light. There have been discoveries of ancient skulls with genetic test done on them. Shocking results show that these skulls have "Ancient Australian and Papa New Guinea" DNA present. Researchers then test the DNA of a few indigenous groups, and 3 groups/tribes show to have more Australian DNA, than Native American DNA. How in the world does "Australian" DNA get to South America? And in such an isolated manner where only 3 tribes have the majority of it? But what if it was the same case with Olmecs? 

    

Another controversial topic is one carved stele, Stele 19. Stele 19 depicts a the first feathered serpent, around a man. But what the man is holding is very peculiar. It appears to be a handbag. But the most controversial part is that this same "handbag" appears in ancient Mesopotamia. Ancient carving are meant to show to most important things, so what is significant of these "Handbags"?

   

 Little is known about our ancient cultures and we've been told to follow the same story in the history books for centuries. But with the advanced technologies, OUR history is showing us it's a lot more complicated than what has previously been theorized.