Monte Albán
AA-2026-7AA48C
On the image
Une touriste, vêtue de la mode distinctive des années 1970, se tient près d'un édifice de pierre massif, contemplant peut-être le monde ancien ou se demandant simplement si elle a éteint le feu. Le site, construit par des civilisations disparues depuis longtemps, sert désormais principalement de musée à ciel ouvert où les gens peuvent déambuler entre les rochers.
Au premier plan, une grande pierre sculptée, connue sous le nom de Danzante, présente une figure dont le sens originel est encore débattu par les experts. Son but, probablement terrifiant ou sacré pour ses créateurs, a été remplacé par son utilité comme point focal pour les plaques interprétatives modernes et les clichés de vacances.
Elle porte des lunettes de soleil et un blouson jaune, préparée à tous les petits désagréments que le monde antique pourrait lui réserver. Le passé, dans son silence durable, n'exerce aucune exigence sinon notre attention fugace avant de passer au prochain tableau.
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.
Subjects & keywords — each links to a search
Visually related — by likeness
Sculpture Danzante de Monte Albán, Oaxaca, années 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 = {Sculpture Danzante de Monte Albán, Oaxaca, années 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 - Sculpture Danzante de Monte Albán, Oaxaca, années 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 -
From the community
Identifications, corrections, and discussion from readers — reviewed by a librarian before appearing here.
Sign in to add an identification, correction, or comment.
No notes yet — be the first to add what you know about this image.