Ancient Civilizations of the
Americas
Lecture 8: The Rise of Monte
Alban in the Valley of Oaxaca
Zapotecs and Mixtecs
Language: Otto-Manguean family
Location:
Mixtecs – Mixteca Alta (highlands), Nochixtlán Valley,
Mixteca Baja, Mixteca de la Costa
Zapotecs: Valley of Oaxaca
John C. Gibson viewing the Valley of Oaxaca in 1965
Monte Albán I:
500-350 BC
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.
Monte Albán
Brief History of Investigations of Monte Albán
•1902 Leopoldo Batres excavates at Monte Albán and
removes many of the Danzante slabs.
•1931-1949 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.
1992-1994 Marcus Winter excavates at Monte Albán.
After Leopoldo Batres
Late Monte Albán I. 350-200 BC
Population at Monte Albán reaches 17,000
Hilltop is leveled
Danzantes increases
to 320
Work begins on a
defensive wall
surrounding
Monte Albán
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
Structure J Monte Albán
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
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.
Identification of conquered towns named in the
Monte Albán conquest slabs
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