As early as the 1970s, US researcher Betty Meggers pointed out close similarities between the social organization of the Olmec and the late Shang, and in the layout of their settlements. Both also had far-reaching trading networks, and both venerated jade and the tiger or jaguar.
七○年代美國學者貝蒂．梅格斯就已指出奧爾梅克與殷商的社會組織與聚落分布很相似，兩者也都有遠距貿易網，並且崇尚玉器與拜虎。