The Olmec and their great stone heads
Read The Olmec and their great stone heads, an IELTS Reading practice passage. The Olmec civilisation thrived in what is today eastern Mexico, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from 1200 to 400 BC. The Olmec was the first major culture in Mesoamerica, a geographical area including Mexico and C…
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The Olmec civilisation thrived in what is today eastern Mexico, along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico, from 1200 to 400 BC. The Olmec was the first major culture in Mesoamerica, a geographical area including Mexico and Central America. As in many ancient societies, the majority of the Olmec population laboured in the fields producing crops, while some spent their days fishing in the rivers. But the Olmec also developed cities - population centres with political and cultural significance and influence - as early as 1200 BC. They were great traders who maintained contacts with other societies in the area. They traded their finely made masks and small statues, in return for materials such as semi-precious stones, crocodile skins, sea shells, sharks' teeth, and brightly coloured feathers, as well as basic necessities like salt. Their skill as traders helped spread their culture to different contemporary civilisations and to several later related civilisations such as the Aztecs and the Maya.
Vocabulary from this passage
10 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- contemporary adjective
Existing, occurring, or living at the same historical period; coexisting with another culture or event.
The researchers compared the artistic styles of several contemporary civilizations in Mesoamerica.
- excavation noun
The systematic process of digging up an archaeological site to uncover buried historical remains and artifacts.
The formal excavation of the ancient tomb revealed a treasure trove of gold masks.
- historical context noun
The specific social, political, and cultural circumstances surrounding a past event or artifact that illuminate its meaning.
Analyzing artifacts without their historical context can lead to major misinterpretations by researchers.
- laborious adjective
Requiring a massive amount of physical or mental effort, time, and sustained, intense hard work.
Moving the heavy stone blocks across mountains was a laborious task for the ancient laborers.
- pinpoint verb
To identify, locate, or determine something with absolute precision, extreme accuracy, or complete certainty.
It is exceptionally difficult to pinpoint the exact century when these stone monoliths were built.
- reproduction noun
A precise copy, duplicate, or replica of an original work of art or a historical object.
The museum displays a high-quality reproduction of the original sculpture for educational purposes.
- sheer size noun
The immense, impressive, or overwhelming physical magnitude, weight, or dimensions of an object.
The sheer size of the monument astounded visitors who gathered at the museum entrance.
- significant undertaking noun
A major task, project, or venture that demands substantial effort, resources, planning, and coordination.
Constructing the massive stone statues was a significant undertaking for the tribal community.
- thrive verb
To grow, develop, or prosper vigorously; to reach a stage of robust cultural, social, or economic advancement.
The ancient civilization began to thrive due to fertile soil and strategic regional trade routes.
- unearth verb
To discover or bring to light something buried in the ground through careful digging, exploration, or research.
Archaeologists managed to unearth several stone monuments that had been buried for centuries.