While their writing system is still largely undeciphered, evidence suggests it predates the Maya script and other Mesoamerican writing systems. It's believed to have emerged around 900 BCE in what is now Mexico.
It's important to note that:
* The Olmec writing system is considered a "proto-writing" system: It primarily consisted of glyphs representing objects or concepts, rather than a full alphabet with phonetic values.
* The Maya writing system later developed from the Olmec system: It's believed that the Olmec script was a major influence on the Maya and other Mesoamerican writing systems that evolved later.
Therefore, while the Olmec writing system might not have been as complex as later systems, it's recognized as the first documented form of written communication in the Americas.