Monte Alban

The ridge

Monte Albán was founded around 500 BC on a leveled ridge

Monte Albán is one of the earliest cities of Mesoamerica, founded toward the end of the Middle Formative period at around 500 BC. Its civic ceremonial center sits atop an artificially leveled ridge, at about 1,940 m above sea level.

1,940 melevation of the ceremonial center above sea level

Growth

It grew to an estimated 17,200 people by the Terminal Formative

The city quickly reached around 5,200 people by about 300 BCE. By the Terminal Formative it had an estimated 17,200, making it one of the largest Mesoamerican cities at the time.

17,200estimated population by the Terminal Formative

Danzantes

Over 300 carved Danzantes stones have been recorded

The earliest carvings are the so-called Danzantes, meaning dancers, found mostly near Building L. They show men in contorted and twisted poses. The 19th-century notion that they depict dancers is now largely discredited.

Excavation

Large-scale excavation began in 1931 under Alfonso Caso

A first intensive exploration was made in 1902, but large-scale scientific excavation began only in 1931, under the Mexican archaeologist Alfonso Caso. Much of what is visible in areas open to the public was reconstructed then. In 1932 Caso found Tomb 7.

Abandoned

The city lost its pre-eminence and was largely abandoned

Monte Albán lost its political pre-eminence by the end of the Late Classic and was soon largely abandoned. Small-scale reoccupation and ritual visits continued into the Colonial period. The ancient Zapotec name of the city is not known.