Ruins Sites Near Oaxaca City, South Central Mexico
The archaeological ruin
site of Mitla, with
buildings unique in
Mexico, shows the
influence of 10th century
AD Mixtec art on the
resident Zapotec culture
site of Mitla, with
buildings unique in
Mexico, shows the
influence of 10th century
AD Mixtec art on the
resident Zapotec culture
Dainzu Archaeological ruin site south of Oaxaca city
Oaxaca
Archaeological
Ruin Sites
Archaeological
Ruin Sites
Built on a mountaintop at 1300 feet
Monte Alban ruled Oaxaca Valley
Monte Alban ruled Oaxaca Valley
From 1500 BC to 1519 AD,
technologically advanced
indigenous cultures in Oaxaca
built monumental cities of stone,
reaching an apex in artistic
achievement at around 800 AD
and then becoming resurgent in
1200. The Spanish conquerers
and colonists built their churches
over the existing indigenous
temples using the already
quarried rock for building
material. This church at Teotitlan
del Valle is built over an 8th
Century Zapotec temple.
technologically advanced
indigenous cultures in Oaxaca
built monumental cities of stone,
reaching an apex in artistic
achievement at around 800 AD
and then becoming resurgent in
1200. The Spanish conquerers
and colonists built their churches
over the existing indigenous
temples using the already
quarried rock for building
material. This church at Teotitlan
del Valle is built over an 8th
Century Zapotec temple.
Of the eight ruin sites reached with an hours drive of Oaxaca
City Monte Alban, Mitla, and San Jose El Mogote have
museums and can be reached easily by public transportation.
Teotitlan del Valle has a small museum of artifacts and village
life and history but the temple site is now beneath a Spanish
colonial era church.
Lambyteco can be reached by public bus or taxi/collectivo
while Yagul, Dainzu, and Huijazoo can be harder to reach by
public transportation because of remote access roads .
Tours to the ruins are available through agencies, or guides in
Oaxaca City or the visitor can self guide using the well marked
trails and explanatory plaques done in the Zapotec language,
in Spanish, and in English.
City Monte Alban, Mitla, and San Jose El Mogote have
museums and can be reached easily by public transportation.
Teotitlan del Valle has a small museum of artifacts and village
life and history but the temple site is now beneath a Spanish
colonial era church.
Lambyteco can be reached by public bus or taxi/collectivo
while Yagul, Dainzu, and Huijazoo can be harder to reach by
public transportation because of remote access roads .
Tours to the ruins are available through agencies, or guides in
Oaxaca City or the visitor can self guide using the well marked
trails and explanatory plaques done in the Zapotec language,
in Spanish, and in English.
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Tomb at Zaachila Ruin Site
Oaxaca City has many ruin sites within a few miles of the city.
Theses major archaeological sites with building stages that
span 1200 BC to 1519 AD are open to the public and can be
reached by car, taxi, or public bus.
Theses major archaeological sites with building stages that
span 1200 BC to 1519 AD are open to the public and can be
reached by car, taxi, or public bus.
Thirty miles southeast of Monte Alban on Route
190, the archaeological ruin site of Mitla, has
architectural details unique in Mexican ruins and
demonstrates the post classic incursion of the 10th
century AD Mixtec culture into the art of the
Oaxacan Valley Zapotec culture
190, the archaeological ruin site of Mitla, has
architectural details unique in Mexican ruins and
demonstrates the post classic incursion of the 10th
century AD Mixtec culture into the art of the
Oaxacan Valley Zapotec culture
Yagul features a
tomb open to the
public, ball court,
and a hilltop view of
the valley
tomb open to the
public, ball court,
and a hilltop view of
the valley
Lambityeco is a small easily
reached site with interesting
classic era sculptures and tombs
reached site with interesting
classic era sculptures and tombs
Construction
started at
Huijazoo around
250 AD
culminating at
its height in 800
AD. The site
was abandoned
after 800 AD
started at
Huijazoo around
250 AD
culminating at
its height in 800
AD. The site
was abandoned
after 800 AD
Dainzu Ruin site's unusual features include a large, partially
restored ball court built in the tenth century AD and a group
of sculpted stones depicting ball players that are similar to
Monte Alban's Danzantes.
restored ball court built in the tenth century AD and a group
of sculpted stones depicting ball players that are similar to
Monte Alban's Danzantes.
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