1. The Valley of Oaxaca ANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of Mexico Kimberly Martin, Ph.D.

2. Oaxaca Three Valleys Configuration

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

4. 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

5. San Jose El Mogote

10. 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

11. The Three Valleys of Oaxaca

12. Monte Alban and the City

13. Monte Alban Terracing

14. Monte Alban Site Overview

15. Monte Alban Site Plan

16. Monte Alban North Platform, Palace Complex and Tombs

17. Monte Alban I Monte Alban North Plaza and Pyramid

18. Front of the North Platform

19. Monte Alban Main Plaza

20. Monte Alban South Plaza and Platform

21. Los Danzantes

22. Danzantes

24. Monte Alban Ballcourt

25. Dainzu = Post Classic

26. View from Cerro at Dainzu

27. Dainzu View from Building A

28. Dainzu Site Plan

29. Dainzu

30. Dainzu Ballcourt

31. Dainzu Carvings

32. Mitla Mixtec and Zapotec influences One of several powerful “city states” in the region. Mosiac stone work instead of carvings

33. Mitla Ruins in Back of the Church

34. Mitla Stonework

36. Lower Plaza

37. Unexcavated Hill at Zaachila

38. Zaachila Tomb Site

39. Zaachila Tomb

40. Zaachila Butterfly Tomb Carving

41. Phallus Figure and Five Flowers