Oaxaca, Monte Alban and Mitla

Oaxaca. We actually stayed here for two nights, but in fact saw very little of the city itself. This was a little disappointing, but ...............

We did find pyramids. Monte Alban is the largest archeological site in the Americas. If you are going to start somewhere, you might as well start big. Here is a site which was occupied for thirteen centuries, spanning Olmeca, Zapotec, and Mixteca cultures.

Here is the main pyramid, and the first thing you see
when you enter the site.

Notice the decoration on the top levels of "The Observatory".

This is a game court. There are no rings on the side walls.
Archeologists believe that the winner was sacrificed to the Sun God.

This fellow didn't even know he was posing for me.

These are only two of a row of stones which have been called "The Dancers". There are now three theories which attempt to explain their meaning.

1. They are dancers, and are merely for the sake of celebration.

2. They are leaders of captured cities who have been tortured and mutilated. Their faces and bodies are contorted in pain.

3. They are individuals who have been born with deformed bodies. Because of their mutations they have been venerated and worshipped as if they were gods.

This is Tomb Number Seven. Here was found an amazing treasure trove. The archeologist who made this discovery was the inspiration for the Indiana Jones character and movies.

Next stop, a tree. This is the Tule Tree. It is a Sabina tree. it is over 2000 years old and is 14 metres in diameter. It is said to be one of the biggest and oldest living beings in the world.

The fence kept Debby from climbing the tree. It is pampered, protected and watered constantly

Next we went to Mitla and discovered taxis just
like the tuk tuks in Thailand.

The ruins in Mitla are Zapotec. This is one of the only sites that
was not found, because it was never lost.  When the Spanish
arrived, it was already visible, not overgrown with vegetation.

This site is remarkable because of the amazing mosaic decoration.

The decorations were made without mortar.

One surprising thing about this Zapotec site is that there is no indication that they practised human sacrifices.

It seems there may have been one peaceful culture, in marked contrast to the Aztecs and the Olmecs.






Our last visit of the day was back in Oaxaca, in a Dominican monastry which is now a museum. Here were the treasures which were discovered in Tomb Seven at Monte Alban, on display for all to see.