Uncontacted contemporaries · 670 overlapping years

Olmec Civilization Kingdom of Kush

For 670 years — from 1,070 BCE to 400 BCE — both civilizations existed simultaneously. Neither this dataset nor the historical record shows any documented trade, war, or diplomatic contact between them.

1,500 BCE 350 CE

Olmec Civilization

1,500 BCE–400 BCE

Kingdom of Kush

1,070 BCE–350 CE

↑ Overlap begins, 1,070 BCE

Olmec Civilization

Gulf Coast, Mesoamerica

Considered the 'mother culture' of Mesoamerica, originating traits later inherited by the Maya and Aztec.

Kingdom of Kush

Nubia, Northeast Africa

A Nubian kingdom that conquered and ruled Egypt as pharaohs, later building more pyramids than Egypt itself.

Traits both developed independently

With no documented contact, any shared trait below represents independent development rather than transmission from one to the other.

Monumental architecture Irrigation agriculture Long-distance trade Urban planning

Olmec Civilization only

Astronomical record-keeping

Kingdom of Kush only

Bronze metallurgy
Iron metallurgy
Standing army