Olmec Art and Archaeology in Mesoamerica

ThishandsomevolumepresentsthecreationsofMesoamerica'smostancientsocietiesintheirarchaeologicalcontexts.TheOlmec,whoarebestknownforauniquestyleofmonumentalstoneheadandjadewere-jaguar,werebasedalongtheGulfofMexico,butevidenceoftheirinfluencehasbeenfoundthroughoutMesoamerica.Recentspectacularfinds,includingwoodenOlmecbusts,jadecelts,andrubberballs,arediscussedandplacedwithinthecontextofsettlementpatterns,religiouspractices,andritualfrom1800to500BC.ThestudyprovidesaframeworkforunderstandingOlmecartandarchaeologyaswellasthehistoryofhowthisimportantandenigmaticprecursortootherMesoamericancivilizationssuchastheMayaandAzteccametobeuncovered.