Archaeologists recently discovered
evidence of the oldest known writing
in the New World. What people were
these writings likely by, and around
what time in history?

A people known as the Olmecs, who lived around 650 B.C., in the Mexican state of Veracruz

http://www.mirabilis.ca/archives/2002_12.html

(About 4/5 of the way down the page)

Excellent answer (as always) Tex!