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The Ruins at Monte Alban
Ten kilometers (6 miles) from Oaxaca City, atop a mountain ridge, lies the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Alban. At the peak of its development, the city covered forty square kilometers (24 square miles), and had a population estimated at twenty-five thousand.
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View our photographs of selected areas of the Monte Alban archaeological site.

Much of Zapotec history centers on the large archaeological site of Monte Alban. View Monte Alban Site Plan

The site was first occupied some time between 800 and 400 B.C., probably by Zapotecs from the outset.

Archaeologists divide the history of Monte Alban into five phases, or periods:

Los Danzantes

Among the buildings of the main plaza is a group of large carved stone figures. These figures, commonly referred to as Los Danzantes, "The Dancers", are believed to be images of the captured leaders of enemy groups.