Who were the Olmec and what were their most well-known artworks?

The Olmec were an ancient Pre-Columbian civilization in Mesoamerica that flourished from approximately 1150 to 400 BCE. The Olmec are renowned for their monumental sculptures and stone monuments, which are some of the most impressive pieces of artwork from Pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. The most well-known pieces of Olmec artworks include the colossal Olmec heads and the 'were-jaguar' carving. These colossal heads, which range in size from four to over six feet in height, were sculpted from basalt, a type of hard volcanic rock, using just simple stone tools. The 'were-jaguar' carving is a seated figure with a mix of human and animal features and is a symbol of the Olmec’s beliefs and rituals. That sculpture likely served as a symbol of Olmec society and suggests their belief in a supreme power. This belief was passed down to many later civilizations, such as the Aztecs, Mayans, and Toltecs.