It’s reasonable to assume that the Proto-Olmec people lived in the region of modern-day Mexico as far back as 4000 BCE. Likely, they were hunter-gatherers, exploiting the abundant resources of the tropical forests and coastal areas. They may have had a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, following game and seasonal food sources. It’s possible that they had early contacts with other groups, exchanging goods and ideas. The Proto-Olmec people likely laid the groundwork for the later Olmec civilization, which would emerge around 1500 BCE.
