Dainzu is a Zapotec site in the Oaxaca valley, about 20km southeast of Oaxaca city on the road to Mitla. It is small, rarely visited, and has some of the most interesting ball player carvings in Mesoamerica. If you are visiting Mitla or Hierve el Agua and pass the turnoff, stop for an hour.
In This Article
The Ball Player Carvings
The most distinctive feature at Dainzu is a gallery of carved stone slabs showing ball players in action — wearing helmets and protective gear, diving and reaching for the ball. These are some of the most dynamic depictions of the ball game in Mexico. The carving style is early Zapotec, dating to roughly 700-200 BC.
The Site
A partially excavated hillside with a main platform, the ball player gallery, and a small ball court. The hilltop above the site has a tomb cut into the rock. The setting in the Oaxaca valley with the mountains behind is pleasant. There is rarely anyone here besides the caretaker.
Getting There
On the road from Oaxaca to Mitla. Any colectivo or bus heading to Tlacolula or Mitla can drop you at the turnoff. The site is about 1km from the road. You can combine Dainzu with Lambityeco, Yagul and Mitla in a day of Oaxaca valley archaeology.