Final answer:
The Mayans adopted aspects of Olmec civilization such as the ritual ballgame, pyramid building, religious practices, advanced agriculture, and long-distance trade, as well as perfected the Olmec's writing and calendar systems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The aspect of Olmec civilization that the Mayans later adopted includes several notable cultural and technological innovations. Among these were the ritual ballgame, pyramid building, and religious practices, as well as advancements in agriculture and trade. The Maya perfected the written language and calendar systems started by the Olmec. The crucial role of the Olmec as a foundational civilization is evidenced by their influence on the Maya, who built upon the Olmec traditions of monumental architecture, social organization, and cosmology.
Olmec symbols and motifs, such as the rain god and the feathered serpent, found their way into Mayan religion, further indicating cultural transmission between the two societies. The Maya also engaged in long-distance trade, a practice that is speculated to have been influenced by the Olmec. Additionally, the Maya utilized a script that combined pictographs and alphabetic letters, an advanced form of the writing system that had roots in Olmec civilization.