香港六合彩即时开奖

Buildings of the North Platform at Monte Alban.

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Monte Alb谩n Ruins

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The former capital of the Zapotec people is today an illustrious ruin, but for over a thousand years it served as the second-largest ceremonial site in Mesoamerica, after Teotihuac谩n. Sitting atop a flattened hill, 9 miles west of present-day Oaxaca, Monte Alb谩n's setting is spectacular. The site is known for its expansive Gran Plaza, ancient ball court, excavated tombs, astronomical 'observatory' and, uniquely, its mysterious danzantes (carved stone figures depicting what are thought to be dead or tortured prisoners of war).

At the entrance to the site are a good museum (explanations in Spanish only), a cafe and a bookstore. Official guides offer their services outside the ticket office (M$500 to M$600). The heart of the site, the Gran Plaza, is wheelchair accessible via an elevator and special walkways (ask at the ticket booth for the elevator to be activated). Explanatory signs are in Spanish, English and Zapotec.

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Nearby attractions

1. Plataforma Norte

0.21 MILES

The North Platform is almost as big as the Gran Plaza, and affords the best views. It was rebuilt several times over the centuries. The 12 column bases at鈥

2. Juego de Pelota

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The stone terraces of the deep Ball Court, constructed about 100 BC, were probably part of the playing area, not seats for spectators. It鈥檚 thought they鈥

3. Gran Plaza

0.26 MILES

About 300m long and 200m wide, the Gran Plaza is the heart of Monte Alb谩n. Some of its structures were temples; others were elite residential quarters鈥

4. Edificio P

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Building P was topped by a small pillared temple and was probably an observatory of some sort. The sun shines directly down into a small opening near the鈥

5. Edificio J

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Arrowhead-shaped Building J, constructed about 100 BC and riddled with tunnels and staircases (unfortunately you can鈥檛 go inside), stands at an angle of鈥

6. Edificio de los Danzantes

0.39 MILES

This structure combines an early (Monte Alb谩n I) building, which contained famous carvings known as Danzantes (Dancers), with a later structure that was鈥

7. Plataforma Sur

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The 40m-high South Platform, with its wide staircase, is the tallest in Monte Alb谩n and is great for a panorama of the plaza and the surrounding mountains鈥

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