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The Dawn of Olmec Civilization

Building on the pioneering work of Matthew Stirling in the 1940s and Michael Coe in the 1960s, archaeologist Ann Cyphers from the Institute of Anthropological Research at the National Autonomous University of Mexico will discuss recent investigations at San Lorenzo that shed new light on the dawn of Olmec civilization almost 4,000 years ago. This virtual lecture on Wednesday, April 21 is a part of the Eduardo Matos Moctezuma Lecture Series and is cosponsored by the Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology, the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies, Harvard Divinity School plus the Moses Mesoamerican Archive. Advanced registration is required and will close 30 minutes before the start time.

This lecture will offer both Spanish subtitles for spoken English and English subtitles for spoken Spanish. Esta conferencia tendrá subtítulos en español para las secciones en inglés y en inglés para las de español.

The hearth of Olmec civilization is located in the tropical lowlands of Mexico’s southern Gulf Coast region, in the majestic archaeological site of San Lorenzo. The inhabitants of this first Olmec capital developed a distinctive geopolitical territory and managed complex trade systems. The Olmec also created spectacular earthen architecture and magnificent stone sculpture—including the famous Colossal Heads—that reflect their stratified social organization and centralized political system backed by religion and directed by hereditary rulers.

The photo of Ann Cyphers is by Brizio Martínez.

Location

11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA

Harvard Square

Website

https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=9CL6b2hFBUGtQy461HJpV3vV05g4vMtKhUoe5WiEgXNUNzhBQkQ2OEpINlExQlFYRlFSUE4yMFRWMC4u

Date & Time

  • Wed Apr 21, 2021

    • 10:00pm - 11:00pm

Type

  • Historical
  • Lectures / Talks