OLMEC HIEROGLYPHIC WRITING The Probable of from an Background Inscribed Ahuelicán, 278 Meaning Tablet Mexico Guerrero, By CARLO Drawings Stone and T. E. GAY by FRANCES PRATT since the early 1940's when Matthew Stirling made his momentous discoveries Ever at the sites of Tres Zapotes, La Venta and San Lorenzo, the Olmec culture has been a source of lively interest and archaeological controversy. While it is generally agreed that the culture reached its full maturity at the turn of the second millennium b.c. and that is should be credited for developing fine lapidary work, monumental sculpture and ceremonial architecture, there is still much uncertainty as to the extent to which the Olmecs contributed to the development of the calendar and hieroglyphic writing in Mesoamerica. Hieroglyphic writing, in particular, is one of the achievements occasionally attributed to the Olmecs which have never been verified. I believe,