Lecture 10: Monte Alban (part 2)

why do we think that the cistern was an important monument?

because it was placed in the middle of the plaza

what was the whale bone in the Suken Patio used for?

as a music instrument

what’s creame ware and when did it appear?

a new ceramic style that appeared during the Nisa phase

true or false: the clay used for crema ware came from far away

false: it was probably created there or close

true or false: crema ware was a ceramic style adopted by everyone at Monte Alban

false: elites tried to control the style to have it for themselves, but some copies were created

how do we know that crema ware was associated with Cociyo, god of the rain?

because it was decorated with lightening iconography

true or false: we found crema ware owned by other leaders

true: it was probably a gift

what were the social inequalities during the Nisa phase? (5)

• crema ware was only for the elite and they controlled the production

• transformation of the main plaza (orientation, buildings)

• elaborate mortuary contexts and residences for the elite

• elite control of obsidian and marine shells (that had to be imported)

• elite eating more venison

how did we know that there was a drop in population during the Tani-Pitao phase? (3)

• decrease in architectural development

• population influence in region starts to fade (Monte Alban doesn’t control the valley)

• elite ate less venison

what was found in the grave 1994-61 and what did we conclude from it?

• burial of a 3 months old

• had good offerings, buried in the north platform (elite area)

• food offering so that the baby could continue to grow in the afterlife

• → baby of an elite since we didn’t bury babies

what was the role of the terraces along the hill? (2)

• living and food production

• stop erosion

what happens if the terraces aren’t being taken care of?

mudslides: could destroy other houses and kill people (dangerous)

how did we know that there was a relationship between Teotihuacan and Monte Alban?

• at Teotihuacan: Tlailotlacan, AKA the Oaxaca neighbourhood (for Monte Alban people)

• at Monte Alban: different material culture

true or false: Teotihuacan was always occupied by the Aztecs

false: it was abandoned by the previous residents before the Aztecs came

what was Tlailotlacan?

a neighborhood occupied by Zapotecs (Monte Alban people) in Teotihuacan

how did we know that Tlailotlcan was occupied by Zapotecs? (5)

• zapotec style pottery (only found there)

• zapotec mortuary conditions (people were buried like in Monte Alban)

• zapotec glyphs

• zapotec-style multi-room temple

• isotopic studies: looking at bones and migration patterns

what were Teotihuacan influences at Monte Alban? (9)

1. Teotihuacan-style pottery

2. Mica deposits

3. Tableros appearing on the North Platform

4. new residences on the North Platfrom without formal tombs

5. possible Teotihuacan burials

6. decline in construction of monumental buildings

7. use of offering boxes stopped

8. absence of new iconography representing Zapotec deities

9. grave 1993-43: 18 kids buried together

how did Teotihuacan and Monte Alban differ in pottery style?

Monte Alban pottery is green, but Teotihuacan is brown

true or false: the tableros found in Monte Alban and in Teotihuacan are the same

false

what’s the difference between burials in Monte Alban and in Teotihuacan?

• Monte Alban: formal tombs

• Teotihuacan: no tomb, people are in foetal position

what was found in grave 1993-43 and the conclusion?

• 18 kids buried together and some adult bones

• found in North Platform

• possible Teotihuacan influence because they did something similar with 18 kids buried under an altar

• 18 to represent the 18 months of the ancient calendar

• secondary deposition: skulls had different levels of preservation

• skulls were wrapped in leaves

what’s the difference between primary and secondary deposition?

• primary: you bury the person

• secondary: you bury the person and then take them out to put them somewhere else

what are the possible nature of relationship between Monte Alban and Teotihuacan? (3)

• military: Teotihuacan controlled Monte Alban

• Monte Alban changed to copy Teotihuacan because they were more powerful

• reciprocal: nobles moved between both cities without friction

what happens during the Peche-Xoo?

zapotec cultural renewal: all Teotihuacan influence disappears

what was done during the Xapotec cultural renewal? (4)

• construction of new monumental buildings starts again

• reappearance of Zapotec deities in iconography

• abandonment of Teotihuacan-influenced rituals

• no known concentration of Teotihuacan artifacts

what are some changes done during the Peche-Xoo period? (3)

• political influence fading: more rivals

• main plaza reorganization: smaller temples

• changes on practices: people from Teotihuacan left

why did we start building smaller temples?

so that rituals could be more restricted, showing more power

what was found in grave 1994-69 and what was the conclusion?

• body but with missing parts like the head

• people were buried close to their home so that their ancestors could protect them… but what if you went far away?

• you took a home from your ancestor (big bone, tibia, femur)

why were arrowheads (plant) found in graves? (2)

• maybe dead person like eating it during their living

• water is associated with the lightening god

how did we know that there was a new focus on domestic rituals (at home burial) during the Peche-Xoo phase? (3)

• increase in offerings: both in formal tombs and simple graves

• more elaborate mortuary contexts: both type of tombs too, more decoration

• more altars in domestic contexts: now 2-3 per house

why was Monte Alban abandoned? (5)

1. security reasons: terraces collapsed, too dangerous (more people leave = more collapse)

2. changes in ideologies: people didn’t like Teotihuacan influence

3. wish for different political organization: elite controlled a lot. once elite had no one to control, they left

4. environmental consequences: a lot of erosion = less fertile lands

5. economy: others stopped trading with Monte Alban

what was found in tomb 8 and what was the conclusion?

• 9 bodies from adults

• were disturbed and damaged, probably secondary deposition

• more than 500 artifacts offering

• was after Monte Alban abandonment: when Mixtec reoccupied Monte Alban