Archaeological Sites: Monte Albán

Description
Monte Alban was the ancient Capital City of the Zapoteca nation and one of the first and busiest Meso-American cities during its peak. It was founded, approximately in 500 AD, reaching its peak in 750 AC. The site is located in the middle of Oaxaca Valley. Monte Alban had tremendous political, economical and ideological influence over other communities found across the valley, and neighboring mountains. Some of the most important constructions were: The Great Square, Ball Course, System II, Los Danzantes (The Dancers), Building "J", Central buildings G., H., and I., The Palace, Southern Platform, System 7 Deer and Tombstone No. 7. The Great Square is 200 m. long by 200 m. wide, which explains why they had to get through rocky plains and fill some of the holes found here.

Ball Court
The course is located to the left of the Great Square's main entrance. It features the proper characteristics of other Ball Playing courts found in the region. The field is delimited by two structures standing over rectangular bases, with very steep inclines. The eastern structure features a sculpture on top. The figure is a grasshopper. The western platform portrays a small staircase, flanked by two joists with sloped edges. It features two trails on the top part and there are two small niches placed in the corners of the headers.

System II
This site features two structures and a staircase, flanked by two joists in a slope and two parallel belt panels, placed in plane rectangular pendants. The top features a small temple built on a rectangular base, that is protected by five columns to the front, and some more to the back. There are no walls to either side of the temple. To the south of this building, there is an indoor tunnel, covered by an angular vault which leads to the main buildings.

Los Danzantes (The Dancers)
This construction features three figures, which belong to the Period named III-B. The sloped walls are covered with sculpted stone slabs of human figures, portrayed in very awkward positions, created in the typical Olmeca sculptural traits.

Central G.H.I. Buildings
These buildings are located in the middle of the Great Square. Central Building "H" is the largest. It features two structures, a large stairway, two tombstones and a temple, which is set on the top, featuring two chambers and two columns, set on each side of the entrance, close to the lateral walls. This site is believed to belong to the Period named III A, although it is thought to have been in use near the end of Period III B. There is a small pavilion, located in front of the main stairway. The pavilion features a square base, and it is the place where the famous "Mascara del Dios Murcielago" (Mask of the Bat God), sculpted in Jade, was found.

Southern Platform: This site is a very large structure that limits the Square, on that side. There are two buildings, found on the upper deck: two mounds that give a perfect sight of the entire Ceremonial Main Square. To the lowest side, there are prominent sculpted relieves of animal figures, as well as several mounted trails on each corner. There are some offerings, displayed here as well.

System 7 Deer
In order to reach this site, we strongly recommend that you walk over the top of the southern platform, headed southeast It is located approximately 250 m. outside the Main Square. This site is comprised by four structures, which surround a Square, which is located towards the four cardinal points.

Tombstone No. 7
When Mexican Archaeologist, Dr. Alfonso Caso explored this site for the first time, he was surprised to find a great array of rich offerings, that are considered to be invaluable archaeological treasures. The treasures are displayed in the Regional Museum of Oaxaca. The tombstone is set upon a rectangular base, formed by an entrance chamber and a main chamber. The vault is angular and it is one of the few tombstones found so far which, despite the deterioration it has suffered through time, still had their offerings intact

Location
Monte Alban's archaeological zone is located just 10 km. west of Oaxaca City. Estimated traveling time, on the Oaxaca - Monte Alban Highway: 15 min.

Additional Information

Monte Alban is a Zapoteca archaeological zone, and by far, the most important archaeological site found in the State of Oaxaca. The outstanding cultural and architectural display it offers, has made it possible for Monte Alban to become a great representative of this region within Meso-American cultures. This Pre-Hispanic settlement is set on top of a tall hill that stands out, west of Oaxaca City. It is placed 1948 m. above sea level, (400 m. higher than Oaxaca Valley).

The Pre-Hispanic name of Monte Alban, has not yet been defined. Zapoteco descendants claim that the hill used to be known as Dhauya quch or Dauyacach "Hill of the Gems". On the other hand Mixtecos named it Yucucui "Green Hill", although the place has been known as Monte Alban since the 17th Century, due to the fact that this land used to belong to a Spanish Lord named Monte Alban or Montalban.

Mexican Archaeologist, Dr. Alfonso Caso, was in charge of the first explorations, and restoration projects held in the zone. Caso´s project took 18 seasons, starting in 1931 and finished until 1958. Based upon research of the zone's architectural sites, such as: buildings, tombstones, ceramics and jewelry Dr. Caso decided that the history of Monte Alban should be divided in very different periods, since each period demonstrated remarkable differences in social organizations, population density and commercial trading habits. This explains why there are five different periods: Monte Alban I, II, III, IV and V. This periods go from 500 AD until 1521 AC. Each period has been given subdivisions, which means that the territory remained occupied for over 1,400 years. This is what helped determine that the two most important Pre-Hispanic cultures in the current State of Oaxaca where Zapotecos and Mixtecas

The area that has been explored and restored, thus far, belongs to Zapoteca culture. It covers an area of 7 km., featured inside a total area which is calculated to be 20 kilometers square. It covers several different hills, which include Gallo (Rooster hill) and "Bonete hill". The zone meets the following municipal agencies: San Martin Mexicapan and San Juan Chapultepec, as well as the following counties: Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan, San Pedro Ixtlahuaca and Santa Maria Atzompa. The Main Square, Monte Alban's most important centre, is surrounded by pyramids, terraces, squares, yards and worshipping centers. They all lead to the resting place of ancient temples and palaces, all built in stone. The style on which this buildings were constructed, has been placed in the last period, although some of them do feature parts that belong to earlier periods. This allows experts to discuss the superposition that took place over the centuries. The buildings are characterized by staircases, bordered by joists, topped by a baseboard in rectangular pendants,an architectural style considered to have been favored by Zapoteca culture, influenced by the Aztec city of Teotihuacan: sloped baseboards. The baseboard , meant for decorative purposes and its silhouette, shaped as an "E", is a typical feature of this style. The baseboard, laid on the ground and running quite long is reinforced by a simple take-up on window panes. This helps, not only to reduce the main volumes of temples and palaces but also to bring together the union of the group's diverse features.

The most typical constructions, found around the Square are: the Ball Court, Temple II, Temple P, Eastern Palace and Temple Q. The Ball Court stands out due to its construction features. Another sight worth seeing is the Eastern Palace, which portrays majestic quarters. Temples G, H, I and J (located in the middle of the Square), Building "J", which has been considered to be the first astronomical observatory in all of Meso-America and a typical structure, due to steep inclines found in its central part, which dates from the times of the conquests. Southern Platform: due to its location, compared to that of other constructions and the peculiar relieves found in its basement, which represent numeral systems, scriptures, and the images of some characters who seem to be deciding certain chronological and war related events. System M, The Wall of Dancers, Building L and Building K and System IV (located on the west side). The Wall of Dancers displays a series of relieved trails, representing certain human characters. The characters are portrayed in motion, which is the reason for this site's name. Due to the characters physical features, these statues are considered to be of Olmeca origins, the oldest of all Meso-American cultures. Other sites: Northern Platform (north side), Sunken Yard, Buildings A and B, the Building of Geodesic Vortex (northern side). The Northern Platform stands out, due to its great majesty, and because of the grouping of several platforms. Tombstone 104 is unique as well, because of its beautiful lintels, relieved jambs and funerary offerings made in clay. This site is located on the backside of the Northern Platform. Tombstone 7, where the treasure of Monte Alban was discovered by Dr. Caso, is set on the northeastern end, isolated from the Main Square.

In the Main Square's surrounding plains, there are several sculptures, which have been identified as main quarters, tombstones and burial grounds. There is a Museum, located at the main entrance to Monte Alban, where visitors can get better acquainted with the sites they are about to experience.

Archaeological Sites

Dainzú	Guiengola	Huamelulpan
Huijazoo	Lambityeco	Mitla
Monte Albán	Nopala	San José el Mogote
Tututepec	Yagul	Yucuita
	Zaachila

Back to the Top