1. Ancient Civilizations of the Americas
Lecture 8: The Rise of Monte Alban in the Valley of Oaxaca

2. Zapotecs and Mixtecs Language: Otto-Manguean family Location:
Mixtecs – Mixteca Alta (highlands), Nochixtlán Valley, Mixteca Baja, Mixteca de la Costa
Zapotecs: Valley of Oaxaca

4. John C. Gibson viewing the Valley of Oaxaca in 1965

5. Monte Albán I: BC

6. Apart from population increases during Monte Albán I:
Houses go from being built of wattle and cane to being built of adobe
People move into the risky piedmont zone and establish irrigation systems.
Ceramics go from being user-produced to being manufactured by specialists.
Comales are made and used for the first time.

8. Monte Albán

10. Brief History of Investigations of Monte Albán
1902 Leopoldo Batres excavates at Monte Albán and removes many of the Danzante slabs.
Excavations carried out by Alfonso Caso, Ignacio Bernal, and Jorge Acosta
Opening of 170 tombs, reconstruction of many buildings.
1971 Valley of Oaxaca Settlement Pattern Project initiated by Richard Blanton (student of Kent Flannery). Joined by Stephen Kowalewski and Gary Feinman.
Surveyed and mapped entire valley, produced numerous publications.
Marcus Winter excavates at Monte Albán.

11. After Leopoldo Batres

12. Late Monte Albán I BC
Population at Monte Albán reaches 17,000
Hilltop is leveled
Danzantes increases
to 320
Work begins on a
defensive wall
surrounding
Monte Albán

13. Monte Albán II 200 BC – AD 300
The reach of Monte Albán extends beyond the Valley of Oaxaca – military outpost established 100 km to the north.
Entire top of Monte Albán is leveled.
Structure J established to commemorate military victories over named localities.
Ball court is added
Piedmont Zone is abandoned.
Secondary centers, such as San Jose Mogote, gain in population and elaboration

14. Structure J Monte Albán

15. Lápida 14: One of 40 “conquest slabs” set into Building J
Reading:
Year: 6 Turquoise
Place Name
Mountain/Place sign
Inverted head
Date: 11 Arrow
Lápida 14: One of 40 “conquest slabs” set into Building J

16. Site of Loma de la Coyotera, 80 km northeast of Monte Albán is sacked and burned during Monte Albán II.. 61 skulls of the inhabitants were mounted on a rack.

17. Identification of conquered towns named in the Monte Albán conquest slabs

18. Kent Flannery and Joyce Marcus determined that Monte Albán had become a state during Monte Albán II. The Cloud People 1983
Characteristics of a State
Full-time leaders not related to commoners.
4 level administrative hierarchy.
Tax and tribute system
Professional army