The site of La Democracia is situated in the de Escuinto department, on the Pacific coast of Guatemala. For many years archaeologists believed the Olmecs, who thrived in the Gulf of Mexico region, were the oldest American civilization. Today, however, it has been demonstrated that the Olmecs descended from a Maya people, who have been called Pre-Olmecs. Unlike Olmec sculptures, Pre-Olmec figures had only one side of their faces carved. The Pre-Olmec civilization existed only in the Pacific coast area.