The Valley of Oaxaca

ANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of MexicoKimberly Martin, Ph.D.

Oaxaca Three Valleys Configuration

PreClassic 2500 – 200 BCE

• PreClassic 2500-200 BCE– San Jose El Mogote–Monte Alban– Dainzu–Mitla

San Jose El Mogote• 1500 – 500 BCE• Oldest permanent agricultural village in Oaxaca • Largest and probably most powerful village in the

Valleys of Oaxaca for 1000 years• Population of about 1000 at its peak• Earliest pottery in the area• Adobe, then stone construction• Defensive walls • Ceremonial buildings (1300BCE)• Terracing• Irrigation • Hierglyphic writing• Craft Specialization

San Jose El Mogote

San Jose El Mogote

San Jose El Mogote

San Jose El Mogote

San Jose El Mogote

Monte Alban• Probably Zapotec indigenous population• Preclassic –Monte Alban I 500-200 BCE– Building of the Danzantes

• Classic–Monte Alban II & III 200BCE – 800 CE

• Postclassic–Monte Alban IV & V 900 CE – 1519 CE– Dainzu–Mitla

The Three Valleys of Oaxaca

Monte Alban and the City

Monte Alban Terracing

Monte Alban Site Overview

Monte Alban Site Plan

Monte Alban North Platform, Palace Complex and Tombs

Monte Alban IMonte Alban North Plaza and Pyramid

Front of the North Platform

Monte Alban Main Plaza

Monte Alban South Plaza and

Platform

Los Danzantes

Danzantes

Danzantes

Monte Alban Ballcourt

Dainzu = Post Classic

View from Cerro at Dainzu

Dainzu View from Building A

Dainzu Site Plan

Dainzu

Dainzu Ballcourt

Dainzu Carvings

Mitla

• Mixtec and Zapotec influences• One of several powerful “city states”

in the region.• Mosiac stone work instead of

carvings

Mitla Ruins in Back of the Church

Mitla Stonework

Lower Plaza

Unexcavated Hill at Zaachila

Zaachila Tomb Site

Zaachila Tomb

Zaachila Butterfly Tomb Carving

Phallus Figure and Five Flowers