Olmecs

[Bernard Ortiz de Montellano]

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>It is said that the Olmecs were the inhabitants of Olman,  (place of
>rubber - "ulli").  Would anyone know what was the role of rubber in their
>lives?
>
>Thanks a lot,
>Susana Moraleda
The ball game was a very important part of Mesoamerican  world view, and
began very early. The oldest Olmec ball court found is  dated 1400 B.C.
Rubber balls have been found in the Olmec swampy site of El Manati.

Dorothy Hosler has recently published a paper showing thst the techniques
natives use to make rubber is the same as that reported in early colonial
times.

Bernard Ortiz de Montellano