Cabana, Mexico
Cabana, Mexico
17°25'57.79"N 96°29'59.57"W
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Key points in its history:
Founding: Around 500 BCE, Monte Albán was founded on a series of hills overlooking the Oaxaca Valley.
Early Development (500 BCE - 100 CE): The Zapotec civilization began to grow, with Monte Albán becoming a major center. During this time, the first monumental structures were built.
Classical Period (100 - 650 CE): This was the peak of Monte Albán's influence. The city grew to house over 25,000 people and controlled much of the Oaxaca region.
Features: The site includes large plazas, truncated pyramids, a ball court, underground passageways, and carved stone monuments.
Writing System: Monte Albán is notable for some of the earliest evidence of writing in Mesoamerica. The Zapotec script found here is one of the earliest forms of writing in the Americas.
Decline: Around 750 CE, for reasons still debated by archaeologists, the city began to decline. By 950 CE, it was largely abandoned.
Legacy: Even after its abandonment, Monte Albán remained a sacred site for the Mixtec people, who used it for burials of their elite.
Rediscovery: The ruins were explored in the 19th century and major archaeological work began in the 1930s.
UNESCO World Heritage Site: In 1987, Monte Albán was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
