Monte Alban

Monte Alban, the largest pre-Hispanic city in the region of Oaxaca, represents the first urban plan on the American continent. 

It is also the heart of the second largest ceremonial site in Mesoamerica, and is exceeded in size only by Teotihuacán. 

In 1987, UNESCO named this Zone of Archaeological Monuments a World Heritage Site.

Getting to Monte Alban was easy, with shuttles running almost every hour from the town centre of Oaxaca, and costing MXP55 for a return trip.  I spent about 3 hours at this site, and is definitely worth seeing.

In its golden age, this city was composed of a Main Plaza, the heart of the ceremonial centre, and a series of nearby monumental architectural complexes, such as Atzompa, Cerro del Gallo, El Plumae, Monte Alban Chico, and El Mogollito. 

The remains of temples, palaces, tall stepped platforms, an observatory and a ball court are all arranged in orderly fashion. 

On the side of one of the building, Lapidas de Conquista, were carved stones with scenes of conquests made between 100 B.C. and 200 A.D. by Monte Alban over other towns. 

Each stone has an upside down head, identified as representing the conquers made by Monte Alban and advertised to the local population about the powerful force of the armies of Monte Alban, as well as served as a foreboding message to foreigners.

Atop the North and South towers, the 360 degree views of distant mountains as well as views of the city built within the valley was mesmerising.  The low hanging clouds also made it felt that I was elevated so high that I could easily touch the sky. 

Monte Alban is one of the few sites in the world where the rise of the State as a system of government is clearly shown.  It was characterised by having developed a true State as its system of government, led by the priestly class.

It is believed to have supported up to 35,000 people in its heyday, revealing it as an important part of the pre-Columbian American landscape.  It’s continuous human occupation spans more than 13 centuries (500 B.C. to 850 A.D.), when its gradual abandonment began, for reasons still unknown.

After the abandonment of the city, its ruins were always regarded as sacred by the Zapotecs who built it and by the Mixtecs who arrived in the Valley at a later date. 

The latter deposited the remains of high status individuals in a Zapotec tomb, which is currently the site where the museum is located, accompanied by an extraordinary offering. 

The museum also houses a number of huge stone carvings found at the Site, which had been moved indoors to preserve it from the elements of nature, as well as artefacts and offerings that were buried with the high status individuals.