Yagul
Archaeological Zones -- Central Valley
Description
Evidence suggests that Yagul was settled in the beginning of the Monte
Alban 1 Period (500 AD). It flourished as an urban center after Monte Alban
was abandoned (800 BC). Yagul was subsequently abandoned for a short period,
but then emerged as a city-state in the Valley of Oaxaca and prevailed
until shortly before the arrival of the Spanish Conquistadores. It was
settled by Zapotecs, who still populate much of the Tlacolula Valley.
This important prehispanic center, whose name literally means "Old Stick"
or "Old Tree", contains the largest ballcourt in the Oaxaca Valley, and the
second largest in all of Mesoamerica.
There are three parts to this fortified site. In the center, staircases
lead from an enormous man-made platform to the temples and main palaces.
The acropolis containing an atalaya grantica overlooks the site and the rest of the Tlacolula Valley. The view of the
Tlacolula Valley from the defensive walls above the site is unequaled.
Stairs lead up toward the mountain, where the majority of the town's
population lived. A relatively unexplored region on the other side of the
river south of Yagul contains a small palace with grecas and other modest residences.
The site's architecture is similar in many ways to that of Monte Alban.
It's Palace of Six Patios is almost identical to the Group of the Columns
at Mitla. This enormous labyrinth-like structure was inhabited by the
ruler, or rulers, of Yagul. This has been totally excavated, and
surrounding the six patios are rooms with one or three entrances. The walls
are made of stone and clay covered with stucco; the floors are made of red
stucco. Some rooms were most certainly closed when the building was
occupied. There is a throne in the northwestern patio of the southern room.
To the west of these patios lie cruciform tombs. Of these, the best known
is the triple tomb in the patio known as the Frog, or Sunken Patio. The
plaza containing the Patio of the Triple Tomb is surroundeed by four
temples. In the lower part of the eastern temple is a colosal monolith with
an animal figure that may be a frog or a jaguar. An opening leads to the
Triple Tomb. The stone facade of the principal tomb is decorated with
engravings of two magnificant human heads. The door to the tomb is a slab
containing hieroglyphic motifs on both sides.
On a long, narrow street to the south of the Palace of the Six Patios one
finds stone mosaics identical to those at Mitla. The stone floor was
quarried from the mountain. This streets ends in a long, narrow room known
as the Sala de Consejo (Council Chamber) which was previously decorated
with stone mosaics that have since disappeared. One enters the room via a
staircase which leads to a large patio. To the west, there is a ceremonial
building, and to the the east, the ballcourt.
Location
Yagul is located in the Tlacolula Valley 35 Km. east of Oaxaca City.
Estimated travel time on Federal Highway 190 is 50 minutes.