MONTE ALBAN – Z APOTEC RUINS 

At the heart of the Zapotec culture is a site called Monte Alban, the former capital.  For more than 1,500 years, this area was inhabited by Zapotec people who arrived sometime around 100 BC.  Today, when you visit the Monte Alban ruins, you will notice amazing architecture that has strong stylistic influence coming from Teotihuacán (Tao-Tee-Wa-Con), which was a huge site not too far to the north.  Because of the close proximity, historians believe the two styles blended. 

The Monte Alban Zapotec ruins are on a flattened plateau that was manmade, stretching more than 15 square miles. The construction of the site is extremely interesting, considering the sophistication of drainage systems and architecture, especially for this time in history.  To the southeast of the site is a beautiful wall that runs along the San Pablo Church.  Then just six miles, you will find Oaxaca City. 

Archaeologists have divided the history of Monte Alban into five specific phases.  First is the years from 500 to 200 BC, then 200 BC to AD 250, followed by AD 250 to 700, next is AD 700 to 1000, and finally, AD 1000 to 1500.  By the year 200 BC, the population had grown to around 10,000 and Monte Alban was now a site with large buildings, although the majority of the construction did not take place until later. 

While there are several theories revolving around Monte Alban, one is that it was developed with the purpose of being a center for government and religion, a place where smaller settlements living in the Oaxaca Valley could come.  In addition to this, evidence shows that a good portion of the civilization was not there on a voluntary basis.  For instance, you will discover many carved stone figures that refer to “Los Danzantes”, which were carved during the time from 500 to 200 BC.  These stones are often interpreted as being a record associated with the conquest of Monte Alban of the smaller settlements, which are the names that appear on the stone figures. 

Then during the second period from 200 BC to AD 250, many of the surrounding ridge tops were flattened, followed by terracing of the slopes.  Again, this is a strong indication that Monte Alban was in a powerful position of dominating human resources.  Then in the third period, from AD 250 to 700, that architecture was at its peak with massive platforms forming to the north and south.  Today, you can see many of these ruins as temples, pyramids, patios, tombs, and palaces. 

It seemed as though the Zapotec people were at top of their game when for reasons unknown, they began to abandon Monte Alban around AD 700.  Some people believe it was because natural resources had been depleted but that still does not explain why other civilizations nearby remained.  Therefore, this is still one of the great mysterious surrounding Monte Alban and the Zapotec people. 

Then starting in 950 until about 1521 when the Spanish arrived, there were few people living where the Monte Alban ruins now stand, although a few Mixtecs did arrive in the valleys from 1100 to 1350.  In fact, the Mixtecs, also known as the “people of stone”, used some of the old tombs as a place for them to bury their own dignitaries.  Indeed the Monte Alban, Zapotec ruins are fascinating and a wonderful place to visit for those who enjoy history and architecture.