Zaachila
Zaachila is a ruined city of the Zapotec and Mixtec in the region Valles Centrales in Oaxaca in southern Mexico .
location
The archaeological site is located on the outskirts of Villa de Zaachila , about 17 km (driving distance) south of the city of Oaxaca de Juárez . The archaeological sites of Yagul and Mitla are approx. 40 and approx. 67 km in an easterly direction.
Surname
The original name of the place is unknown. The name Zaachila was chosen after a Zapotec ruler named Zaachila Yoo , who is said to have ruled around 1400.
history
The history of the pre-Hispanic settlement is largely unclear - while some researchers suggest its beginnings in the 11th or 12th century, others advocate an even later, possibly Mixtec or even Aztec origin; the latter, however, seems rather unlikely due to the clearly recognizable relationship to Mitla. In general, however, it is assumed that the place was only created after the abandonment of Monte Albán (around 1000 AD).
Attractions
Since there are many hill structures ( mounds ) in the area of today's city, the excavations are not very far advanced - so little is known about the architecture of the settlement. Only one of the hills with a square surrounded by palace ruins, in which two palace-like princely graves of Zapotec origin were placed, has been exposed and accessible to visitors.
- Grave No. 1
- Grave No. 1 is one of the most important grave monuments in the Oaxaca Valley, yes in all of Mexico; it contained the remains of 11 people and ceramic urns in the Mixtec style, which - similar to Monte Alban or Mitla - indicates a re-use of older graves by the Mixtecs. The stone lintel beam above the entrance is adorned with a geometric ornament panel that comes close to those of Mitla and Yagul. The main chamber of the cruciform grave contains three niches for the urn burial - on both sides there are guard figures with skulls made of stucco and a necklace with an attached heart; A figure of a god (?) or another guardian of the realm of the dead with a body covered by a turtle shell floats above the rear niche. In both of his right hands (!) He holds a sacrificial knife ; A kind of speech bubble or breath of life can be seen in front of his mouth . The second burial chamber is also guarded by two guardian or priest figures - albeit with an almost human appearance - who are holding phallic-shaped sacrificial knives in their hands on short cords ; on their heads they wear a kind of “crown” with lush headdresses. The two wall niches of the opposite chamber are guarded by two owls with wide-spread wings. All figures are quite 'primitive' but designed very expressively.
Entrance to grave 1 with ornament panel
Guardian with skull
Guardian with turtle shell
Guardian Owl
- Grave No. 2
- The grave chamber of grave no. 2 consists of only one single room and shows only two stone panels with geometric decoration; figurative motifs are missing. The guard of the facility shows photos of jade and gold jewelry etc., which was found during the excavation work in grave 2 and is said to be in Mexico City today.
See also
Web links
- Zaachila - general information from INAH (Spanish)
- Zaachila - Photos and information (English)
Coordinates: 16 ° 57 ′ 9.6 ″ N , 96 ° 44 ′ 55.8 ″ W.