Olmecs, called the Mother Culture. The largest and best known Olmec sites are situated along rivers on the coastal plain and include San Lorenzo (1300–900 B.C.) and Tres Zapotes (1000–400 B.C.) in Veracruz, and La Venta (1000–600 B.C.) in Tabasco. San Lorenzo, at the center of the Olmec domain, controlled the vast flood plain area of Coatzacoalcos basin and riverline trade routes.The Olmec people called themselves Xi (pronounced Shi).
By 1150 BC, in a city near San Lorenzo, Veracruz, Mexico, there was drainage, a ball court, public buildings, and many of the colossal Olmec heads.

In 900 BC, La Venta, located in the Mexican state of Tabasco, outshone San Lorenzo.  Their figurines were made up of obsidian and jade and showed that they were advanced enough to have elites that sponsored art. The most famous figurines are those of were-jaguars and pudgy babies, whose meaning is currently unknown.
The colossal heads are thought to represent the elite and show how the Olmecs looked like. It is important to note that the heads have African characteristics and are wearing helmets. The sculptured heads of basalt, weighing as much as 40 tons and standing up to 10 ft (3 m) in height came from up to 50 mi (80 km) away and was floated to the riverine settlements on rafts.
By 400 B.C. the Mayan culture was dominating while the Olmec culture was disappearing into central parts of the future Mexican civilizations

crystalinks.com/olmec.html
"The Olmec Writing is Unique. The Signs are similar to the writing used by the Vai people of West Africa. The Olmecs spoke and aspect of the Manding (Malinke-Bambara) language spoken in West Africa. "
Olmec Head contest won by rose-hulman.edu/~delacova/olmec-colossal-heads-1.htm || home
with a complete collection of all 17 Olmec heads

Only about 120 miles separates Coatzacoalcos from connecting with its sister port City of Juchitan on the Pacific

San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan, Veracruz, Mexico
Olmec Colossal Head No. 10 San Lorenzo Tenochtitlan