Why are the Maya and the Olmec believed to be ancestors?

The Maya and the Olmec are believed to be ancestrally linked due to archaeological evidence suggesting that the Olmec civilization, which flourished around 1200-400 BCE, laid foundational cultural and artistic influences that the Maya later adopted. Both civilizations shared similarities in monumental architecture, religious practices, and social organization. Additionally, the Olmec's innovations in writing and calendrical systems likely influenced the subsequent development of Maya culture. This interconnectedness indicates a continuum of cultural evolution in Mesoamerica.