The first civilization that emerged on the territory of Mexico, is the Olmec civilization. It was when it first appeared here hieroglyphic writing, calendar, major urban centers... But after more than half a century scientific study of the culture of the Olmecs, the researchers still far more questions than answers to them.

According to modern concepts, this civilization emerged in the middle of the II Millennium B.C. and existed for about 700 years. Its main centers was located in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico on the territory of modern Mexican States of Veracruz and Tabasco. But cultural influence of the Olmec traced throughout Central Mexico. Still not clear which people have created a civilization that bears his name. The name "ol-Meca", meaning "people of Kauchuk", is modern. Where did they come really, what language they spoke, what caused the disappearance of their civilization, is still unknown.

The largest monuments of culture of the Olmecs are San Lorenzo, La Venta and Tres Zapotes. These were real urban centres, which included a major ceremonial complexes with earthen pyramids, - the city blocks, irrigation systems, necropolises. The Olmec civilization is the first, so to say, the parent civilization of Mexico. Indeed, in later cultures Maya, Zapotec well traced Olmec features. It is in Olmec culture for the first time in America appear hieroglyphic writing, precision calendar and an original system account.

Giant Olmec head

But one of the most remarkable and puzzling features of Olmec culture are the giant stone heads. The first head was discovered in 1862 in La Venta. To date found 17 goals, eight of which were found in San Lorenzo. All the giant head made from solid blocks of basalt. Their height on average varies from 2 to 2.5 m Has two small head, a height of 1.5 m, and a single, giant, height 3,4 meters, which was found on the monument Ranch-La-Kobata. The weight of these huge basalt sculptures ranges from 10 to 35 so every head is made in a consistent manner, but it is evident that each of them represents a portrait of a specific person. All heads wearing a helmet-shaped hats and have ear ornaments in the form of large earrings and ear inserts. The piercing of the ear lobes are a typical tradition for all Mexican cultures.

Despite individuality, all Olmec sculptures are United by one mysterious feature. The people depicted on them have a pronounced Negroid features - large plump lips, a broad flattened noses with twisted nose and large eyes. Negroid features Olmec heads were noted by researchers from the very beginning. This led to the emergence of various hypotheses. From assumptions about migration of Africans to the claim that such features are characteristic of the inhabitants of Polynesia and South-East Asia, and they should not be surprised, because they were brought to America is still the waves of immigrants from Asia. However, racial type presented in other works Olmec culture, is quite typical for the native American population. Although there are exceptions, also represents doubtless interest. At different Olmec monuments have been discovered a small sculptures, which the American archaeologists conditionally called "fighters". They represent squatting man raised to the level of the chest or put on knees. All persons such figures have a mustache and a wedge of a beard, and their anthropological features typical for the ancient inhabitants of the Mediterranean basin. The presence in the Indian cultures of Central America obvious features of the civilizations of the Old world has long been a stumbling block for researchers. But the common point of view on this problem is still there.

Olmec head cause genuine surprise, first of all by its uniqueness. More than anywhere else in America not found a similar type images of people. The only analogy that comes to mind is connected with the famous Pushkin's poem "Ruslan and Lyudmila". The great poet actively used the rich heritage of Russian folklore. By the way, it should be noted that giant talking head is mentioned in one of the stories Ossetian epic.

Modern researchers believe that Olmec heads portrayed local rulers, and they were made and installed after the death of the last to perpetuate the memory. In Olmec culture and other famous stone heads depicting the faces characteristic of the indigenous population of Mexico and not having any Negroid features. But what was the reason of occurrence of such an original type of sculpture? And why only 17 sculptures depict people of other African type?

Olmec heads confront researchers and a number of other, no less problematic issues. Geologists have determined that the basalt from which was made one of the goals in La Venta, was taken from the quarries in the mountains Tuxtla distance to which is only in a straight line is about 90 km. How transported stone blocks weighing several dozen tons cross, enough wetlands and the jungle-covered areas? American researchers believe that the transportation of cast billets was carried out by water. Assume that the Olmecs used reed rafts that floated down the river into the Gulf of Mexico and along the coast was forwarded blocks to the city center. However, this is only a hypothesis, confirmation of which is not found. Undoubtedly, transportation basalt boulders weighing two dozen tons was to submit to the ancient Indians serious technical problem. The Indians did not know wheels, and they had no draft animals, which, incidentally, is another mysterious fact from the history of ancient Mexico. On the territory of the same state of Veracruz were found numerous clay toys representing animals, delivered to the wheels. That is the wheel as such ancient Mexicans knew, but in its activity is somehow not used.

Is also a question and method of material processing for Olmec heads. Basalt is one of the most solid volcanic rock, and Olmec civilization were not known tools of metal. So all these sculptures were made by stone tools. And processed so thoroughly, that they cannot find traces of instruments that were used during operation.

Some modern American researchers believe that the Olmecs were immigrants from West Africa. They provide a number of common characteristics in literature, religion, art between olmakla and African cultures to the beginning of a new era. However, in relation to the time of the second Millennium B.C. in Western Africa, a highly developed civilization is unknown. So the question about the origin of the first Mexican civilization is still outstanding.