The question of the origin of Mesoamerican civilization is one that has intrigued generations of archaeologists, culture historians and anthropologists. The Olmecs, which flourished between 2,500 and 400 BC, have been long considered the earliest major civilization of Mesoamerica, expressing one of the first widespread artistic and cultural traditions in parts of what is today Mexico and Guatemala.

Since the early 1990’s, however, a new hypothesis has emerged that Mesoamerican civilization did not arise in isolation, but as part of a complex network of regional trade interactions that favored cultural exchange and the diffusion of similar artistic styles as well as pottery, stone and metalworking techniques across a wide area between western Mexico, Central and South America.  

These contacts certainly took advantage of the extensive river network of ancient Mexico and Guatemala, particularly along the Balsas and Usumacinta rivers, where some of the earliest centers of Mesoamerican civilization outside of the Gulf coast of Mexico may be found. 

By taking a Pan-American view of the development of civilization in the Americas, our mission is to document the complex mosaic of cultural influences that shaped the formative and classic period of Mesoamerican civilization. 
Our methods combine traditional exploration with the use of the latest technologies in aerial and satellite imaging to help unravel the great puzzle of Mesoamerican origins, mapping and documenting the trade corridors and original centers of civilization of the Americas.