Monte Albán
AA-2026-7AA48C
On the image
Una turista, vestida con la moda distintiva de los años 1970, se para cerca de un edificio de piedra masivo, contemplando quizás el mundo antiguo o simplemente tratando de recordar si apagó la estufa. El sitio, construido por civilizaciones hace mucho desaparecidas, ahora principalmente sirve como museo al aire libre donde la gente puede caminar alrededor de rocas.
En el primer plano, una gran piedra tallada, conocida como Danzante, presenta una figura cuyo significado original aún es debatido por expertos. Su propósito, probablemente aterrador o sagrado para sus creadores, ha sido reemplazado por su utilidad como punto focal para placas interpretativas modernas y fotos de vacaciones.
Lleva gafas de sol y carga una chaqueta amarilla, preparada para cualquier inconveniente menor que el mundo antiguo pudiera lanzarle. El pasado, en su silencio perdurable, no hace exigencias más que nuestra atención fugaz antes de pasar a la siguiente exhibición.
The historian's note
Monte Albán is a significant pre-Columbian archaeological site located in the Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán municipality, approximately 9 km west of Oaxaca City, Oaxaca State, Mexico. It served as the capital of the Zapotec civilization for nearly 1,000 years, from approximately 500 BCE to 800 CE, and was one of the earliest cities in Mesoamerica.
The prominent stone carving in the foreground is one of the 'Danzantes' of Monte Albán. These are distinctive relief carvings on stone slabs, primarily dating to the Monte Albán I phase (c. 500-200 BCE). They depict human figures in contorted, often naked, positions, and are interpreted by scholars as sacrificial victims, captive warriors, or ritual dancers. They are among the earliest known examples of Zapotec writing and calendrical notation.
The site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. This photograph captures a visitor exploring the ruins during the 1970s, a period that saw increasing international tourism and scholarly interest in pre-Columbian Mesoamerican archaeological sites.
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Escultura Danzante de Monte Albán, Oaxaca, años 1970. 1970–1979. Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library, AA-2026-7AA48C. https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/monte-alb-n-danzante-carving-oaxaca-1970s.
@misc{aaAA20267AA48C,
title = {Escultura Danzante de Monte Albán, Oaxaca, años 1970},
year = {1970–1979},
howpublished = {Archive \& Atlas, Historical Image Library},
note = {Accession AA-2026-7AA48C},
url = {https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/monte-alb-n-danzante-carving-oaxaca-1970s}
}TY - ART TI - Escultura Danzante de Monte Albán, Oaxaca, años 1970 PY - 1970–1979 PB - Archive & Atlas, Historical Image Library AN - AA-2026-7AA48C UR - https://thearchive.archiveandatlas.com/library/monte-alb-n-danzante-carving-oaxaca-1970s ER -
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