 The Olmec civilization developed in the lowlands of southeastern Mexico between 1500 and 400 BC . The Olmec heartland lies on the Gulf Coast of Mexico within the states of Veracruz and Tabasco , an area measuring approximately 275 kilometres ( 171 mi ) east to west and extending about 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) inland from the coast . The Olmecs are regarded as the first civilization to develop in Mesoamerica and the Olmec heartland is one of six cradles of civilization worldwide , the others being the Norte Chico culture of South America , the Erlitou culture of China 's Yellow River , the Indus Valley Civilization of south Asia , the civilization of ancient Egypt and the Sumerian civilization of ancient Iraq . Of these , only the Olmec civilization developed in a lowland tropical forest setting . 
 The Olmec civilization developed in the lowlands of southeastern Mexico between 1500 and 400 BC . The Olmec heartland <a href='uninflect' title='1'><mark>lies</mark></a> on the Gulf Coast of Mexico within the states of Veracruz and Tabasco , an area measuring approximately 275 kilometres ( 171 mi ) east to west and extending about 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) inland from the coast . The Olmecs are regarded as the first civilization to develop in Mesoamerica and the Olmec heartland <a href='drop_aux' title='2'><mark>is</mark></a>one of six cradles of civilization worldwide , the others being the Norte Chico culture of South America , the Erlitou culture of China <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>Yellow River , the Indus Valley Civilization of south Asia , the civilization of ancient Egypt and the Sumerian civilization of ancient Iraq . Of these , only the Olmec civilization developed in a lowland tropical forest setting . 
The Olmec civilization developed in da lowlands of southeastern Mexico between 1500 and 400 BC . The Olmec heartland lie on the Gulf Coast of Mexico within the states of Veracruz and Tabasco , an area measuring approximately 275 kilometres ( 171 mi ) east to west and extending abt 100 kilometres ( 62 mi ) inland from tdacoast . Thdalmecs r regarded as the first civilization to develop in Mesoamerica and thedamec heartland one of six cradles of civilization worldwide , the others bein the date Chico culture of South America , the Erlitou culture of China  Yellow River , the Indus Valley Civilization of south Asia , the cdalization of ancient Egypt and the Sumerian civilization of ancient Iraq . Of dem , only the Olda civilization developed in a lowland tropical forest setting .