  monte albÃ¡n is a large pre-columbian archaeological site in the southern mexican state of oaxaca (17.043Â° n, 96.767Â°w). the site is located on a low mountainous range rising above the plain in the central section of the valley of oaxaca where the latter's northern etla, eastern tlacolula, and southern zimatlÃ¡n & ocotlÃ¡n (or valle grande) branches meet. the present-day state capital oaxaca city is located approximately  east of monte albÃ¡n. the partially excavated civic-ceremonial center of the monte albÃ¡n site is situated atop an artificially-leveled ridge, which with an elevation of about  above mean sea level rises some  from the valley floor, in an easily defensible location. in addition to the aforementioned monumental core, the site is characterized by several hundred artificial terraces, and a dozen clusters of mounded architecture covering the entire ridgeline and surrounding flanks (blanton 1978). the archaeological ruins on the nearby atzompa and el gallo hills to the north are traditionally considered to be an integral part of the ancient city as well. besides being one of the earliest cities of mesoamerica, monte albÃ¡n's importance stems also from its role as the pre-eminent zapotec socio-political and economic center for close to a thousand years. founded toward the end of the middle formative period at ar
Archaeological_museums_in_Mexico Archaeological_sites_in_Oaxaca Former_populated_places_in_Mexico History_of_Oaxaca Mixtec_sites Museums_in_Oaxaca Visitor_attractions_in_Oaxaca World_Heritage_Sites_in_Mexico Zapotec_sites