The Olmec civilization is the name given to a sophisticated Central American culture dated between 1200 and 400 BC.
The Olmec civilization is the name given to a sophisticated Central American culture dated between 1200 and 400 BC. Its baby-faced statues have led to some fairly baseless speculation about prehistoric international sailing connections between what is now Africa and Central America, but the Olmec were incredibly influential, spreading domestic and monumental architecture and a suite of domestic plants and animals into North America.