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Monte Alban
Join the history of the ancestral civilizations that inhabitated the Monte Alban in Mexico.
Monte Alban is one the main tourist attractions of the state of Oaxaca. It looks golden color during the drought season and emerald color during the raining season. Monte Alban is a very interesting archaeological site because it mixes the splendor of two great pre-Hispanic cultures: the zapotec and the mixtec. This cultural richness calls the attention of thousands around the world that travel to Mexico every year to find out this ancient treasures.
The Zapotec started building the city about 500 B.C. when they begun leveling the mountaintop and constructing terraces. The observatories were built in a second phase of construction about 100 B.C. Later, around the 1200 A.D. the Zapotec abandoned the city due to Mixtec incursions, who added some minor structures to the city.
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The architecture of Monte Alban is organized around an enormous free space called the “Gran Plaza” and here is where the market used to take place. They used to sell food, plants and even luxury products that people could pay through barter: cacao, shells or salt.
The main attractions of Monte Alban are:
• North Platform - Large, high platform with several structures (possibly temples) at the top.
• Ballcourt - The Zapotec used a very different layout from the Mayan ballcourts at sites like Coba or Chichen Itza.
• Los Danzantes - A group of structures noted for its fascinating Olmec carvings of people in various strange positions.
• Building J - The unusual position and architectural details indicate that the building was an astronomical observatory.
• Southern Platform - A very large pyramid with an open plaza area at the top.
• Tomb 7 - Mexican archaeologists uncovered the treasure-filled tomb in the early 1930s.
Monte Alban has a local museum that is modern and very attractive, you will find utensils and tools and many other relics excavated during the 20th century.
If you don’t want to miss any details of the history of Monte Alban nor the symbolism of its architecture, you should consider hiring the services of a local guide who will help you understand and enjoy more your visit. Monte Alban is one of the most popular archeological sites, and it definitely worth a visit for those doing tourism in Mexico.
For more information about Monte Alban, contact us and we will gladly send you further material about any subject of your interest. We will e-mail this information at no cost within 72 hours and it will be specific to your requirements.
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