ABSTRACT
Recent results of archaeological investigations suggest that patterns of interregional interaction during the Preclassic period among the residents of the Maya area, the Olmecs, and other western neighbors changed through time, although this question is still plagued by chronological uncertainties. Three major periods can be recognized: the Early Horizon (1400–1150 BC) in which San Lorenzo played a special role; Intermediate Period (1150–800 BC) in which the decline of San Lorenzo led to complex interaction among various groups; and the Late Horizon in which La Venta became a large center but its role in interregional interaction is still not clear.
