when did the olmec start trading
The Dawn of the Olmec. One of the accomplishments of Olmec culture was the use of trade to enrich their society. Around 1200 B.C., the great Olmec city of San Lorenzo (its original name is unknown) began creating long-distance trade networks with other parts of Mesoamerica. 1  The Olmec were skilled artisans, whose pottery, celts, statues, and figurines proved popular for commerce.