Olmecs are the founders of the oldest civilization in Central America, and regarded as "mother" culture for the much more famous Maya and Aztec civilizations.

Their culture flourished between 1200 - 400 B.C., on the southern eastern coast of Mexico (Veracruz and Tabasco).

Recently, archaeologists have found a 2,500-year-old city influenced by the Olmecs hundreds of miles away from the Olmecs' Gulf coast territory.

The remains of Zazacatla shed light on the early arrival of advanced civilizations in central Mexico, but also warned about the risks to ancient sites caused by modern development that now boomed over much of the ancient city. "Two statues and architectural details at the site, 25 miles south of Mexico City, indicate that the inhabitants of Zazacatla adopted Olmec styles when they changed from a simple, egalitarian society to a more complex, hierarchical one", said archaeologist Giselle Canto.

"When their society became stratified, the new rulers needed emblems ... to justify their rule over people who used to be their equals," Canto said about the ancient inhabitants of the area, which may not have been necessarily Olmec ethnics, but apparently regarded it as superior, adopting it. The Zazacatla settlement covered less than one square mile (2.5 square km) between 800 - 500 B.C.

Nowadays, much of its site has been covered by housing and commercial development spreading from Cuernavaca, a popular tourist attraction just seven miles (11 km) north. "There are 10 housing developments, a gas station, a highway and a commercial building on the site now," Canto said.

Since the beginning of the Zazacatla digging last year, scientists have discovered six buildings, and two sculptures of supposed Olmec-style priests. The characters in the carvings bear jaguar headdresses, worshiped by Olmecs, and other items of status and authority.

The Olmec influence at Zazacatla and other areas far from their homeland could mean Olmec colonization, conquests or missionary sites. "The Olmecs' most famous ceremonial center, about 250 miles (400 km) east, was too far for direct contact, though trade links may have existed", added Canto.