Question by cactusflower333: What are your thoughts on the possibility that the Olmec people were originally from West Africa?
I recently read an article that said that the Olmec (ancient predecessors of the Maya) were from an ancient advanced civilization from West Africa.
Your thoughts?
Best answer:
Answer by tonalc1
Some researchers say they descended from Asia – others say they were from Africa. They say such a sophisticated civilization couldn’t possibly have developed in the tropical climes of the Gulf coast.
However, radiocarbon dates done by archaeologists inform that La Venta and San Lorenzo were inhabited as early as 1700 B.C., by peoples who were the direct ancestors to the Gulf coast.
That being said, I believe it could be possible.
Add your own answer in the comments!
#1 by Anil S on December 22, 2011 - 3:24 am
There is a site for Olmec, but it is a history only. Columbus discovered this country around 500 yrs back and all adventures race of the planet were residing to this area. Some people were brought from Africa for tilling the land and than after feudalism and monarchy created a history which is best known to everyone till A. Lincoln.
#2 by eternal on December 22, 2011 - 3:53 am
If you look at their stone carvings, they definitely have an African feeling about them…
#3 by Mathilda on December 22, 2011 - 4:20 am
The stone heads do have an African look to them, but the local tribes have a wide range of appearance, with wide noses and thick lips from their Australoid ancestry. Apparently relatives of the Aborigines were the first in south America.
http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/olmec-colossal-heads-1.htm
Ignore Afro centrism, it is full of outright lies.
Although, having said that I did some reading into the genetics of it, and it seems the natives do have about 10% African haplotypes in some ares, so Some Africans probably did add to the mix too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olmec_alternative_origin_speculations
Seems the native South Americans were a totally mixed bunch.
#4 by icabodwa on December 22, 2011 - 5:01 am
The Olmecs were possibly the oldest civilization in the Americas. Their period was roughly 1200-600 BP. This predates the Mayan, Aztec and Inca cultures. Further these later cultures incorporated many of the accomplishments of the Olmecs.
Here are the tough questions:
1. Name the “ancient advanced civilization from West Africa” that the Olmec were from.Be sure to explain the date range of the civilization and how it’s linked to the Olmec.Point to West African artifacts found in Olmec graves.
2. Discuss the sea going capabilities of this civilization and the probable route they took to reach Central America. Discuss the reason trade did not continue.
3.Show by DNA evidence that the native American population of the region has African blood, and that the contact is dated to the start of the Olmec civilization.
4. Discus language contribution to the Central American region by West African speaking peoples.
5. Finally explain why Native Americans living in Central America couldn’t have created the civilization on their own.
Those are the problems with “the Olmec people were originally from West Africa.” One first has to assume Native Americans weren’t capable of building a civilization then import an unnamed but “ancient advanced civilization from West Africa” to provide the brains.