Atzompa sits 4 km north of Monte Alban on another mountaintop, its name meaning 'the city above the water' in Nahuatl. The site features four terraces, an elite residence with a ritual steam bath, three ball courts (the main one larger than any at Monte Alban), and a ceramic production workshop with a kiln. The Mixtecs later migrated into the valley around 1000 CE.
Atzompa: secondary Zapotec center with elite residences and craft workshops
MexicoArchitecture
Key facts
- Atzompa is located 4 km north of Monte Alban on another mountaintop
- The site name comes from Nahuatl, meaning 'the city above the water' or 'high water mark'
- Site contains four terraces with a broad platform and central staircase at the entrance
- Terrace 4 features the East House, an elite residence with multiple rooms around a sunken patio and a ritual steam bath
- Three ball courts were discovered at Atzompa, with the main court longer than any at Monte Alban
- Structure 5 is the main pyramid, though extensive looting has removed most stucco facing
- The House of the Altars contained multiple rooms with plastered floors and walls, ritual altars, and service areas
- A ceramic production workshop with a kiln has been identified at the site
- The Mixtecs later migrated into the Valley of Oaxaca around the year 1000, initially as traders
Site mentioned
Sources
Santa María Atzompaen.wikipedia.org
Beginning in 2009, there has been excavation at the Atzompa archeological site, leading to the discovery of a 45-meter Mesoamerican ball court,
Atzompa Archaeological Site : Oaxacavisionsoftravel.org
There's much to see in Atzompa, and there is clear signage that helps you get a feel for former life with illustrations of what took place where.
Tours & tickets Atzompa Archeological Zonegetyourguide.com
Perched above Oaxaca, Atzompa is a quiet Zapotec site with a huge ballcourt, terrace plazas, and wide valley views. It combines physical activity with history, ...
Atzompalugares.inah.gob.mx
From the city of Oaxaca take the road for San Pedro Ixtlahuaca and travel 1 km until you find the signs that lead to the archeological zone. Services.
Oaxaca's Overlooked Zapotec Sites: Yagul, Dainzú & ...sailingstonetravel.com
Located northwest of Oaxaca and several kilometers north of Monte Albán, Atzompa was actually considered a suburb of the Zapotec capital.
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