Monte Albán
Dani Baá · Monte Albán Archaeological Site · Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Monte Albán
Formative to Classic 500 BCE–850 CE (Monte Albán I–V; apogee IIIa 250–500 CE, IIIb–IV 500–850)·Zapotec (Beni Zaa); later Mixtec reuse·🇲🇽 Oaxaca, Mexico
About
About Monte Albán
Zapotec capital on artificially levelled 400 m hilltop (6 km²) commanding Oaxaca Valley confluence: Main Plaza (300×150 m), South and North Platforms, Pyramid of the Dancers (Temple I) with Danzantes bas-reliefs (300+ contorted figures), Building J arrow-point observatory, ballcourt and Tomb 7 with Mixtec gold (500 pieces) excavated by Alfonso Caso 1932. Founded 500 BCE, capital until 850 CE; later Mixtec reuse. UNESCO 1987 Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Monte Albán. Panoramic view of three Oaxaca Valley arms.
Why it mattersLongest-lived Mesoamerican urban capital; type-site for Zapotec writing (oldest inscriptions in Mesoamerica ca 500 BCE), Danzantes corporeal writing.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01What Danzantes represent – tortured war captives vs dancing shamans (Marcus reinterpretation) vs birth deformity
- 02Why city built on defenseless hill requiring everything hauled up
Theories
- 01Danzantes as Monte Albán I ‘conquest slabs’ listing captured places – place-glyph + inverted head = defeated polity
- 02Hilltop choice as cosmological mountain altepetl archetype and valley-controlling display
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Founding Monte Albán I c.500–100 BCE; Main Plaza levelled c.100 BCE
- Period
- Formative to Classic 500 BCE–850 CE (Monte Albán I–V; apogee IIIa 250–500 CE, IIIb–IV 500–850)
- Culture
- Zapotec (Beni Zaa); later Mixtec reuse
- Purpose
- Leveled hilltop capital, cosmologically planned city, dynastic cemetery and observatory
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
Founding Monte Albán I c.500–100 BCE; Main Plaza levelled c.100 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1219 CE
Abandonment
On the ground
Structures & features
17.0439° N · 96.7678° W · 1940 m · 3 mapped features
Main Plaza and North Platform
plazaCentral leveled plaza with north pyramid
17.0439° N · 96.7678° WBuilding J (arrow observatory)
observatoryArrow-shaped building skewed 45° for astronomical observation
17.0445° N · 96.7670° WTomb 7
tombRock-cut tomb with Mixtec gold hoard
17.0428° N · 96.7685° W
Gallery