Dainzú

Dainzú is a Zapotec archaeological site in the Valley of Oaxaca, an ancient village near to and contemporary with Monte Alban and Mitla, and located about 20 km south-east of the modern-day city of city of Oaxaca, Mexico.

Dainzú was first occupied 700-600 BC but the main phase of occupation dates from about 200 BC to 350 AD. The site was excavated in 1965 by Mexican archaeologist Ignacio Bernal.

Etymology

"Dainzú" means hill of the organ cactus in Zapotec, it is formed from two Zapotec words: danni meaning "hill" and zu meaning "organ cactus".

Site layout and description

The main site is located on the Valley of Oaxaca floor beside a tributary of the Salado river, while steps and chambers carved into the rock on the peak above perhaps belonged to a shrine. The site features a gallery of carved stone bas-reliefs similar in style to the danzante bas-reliefs at Monte Albán. Forty-seven of these represent ball-players wearing protective equipment such as helmets, knee-guards and gauntlets and holding a small ball in one hand. A large ball-court was found nearby, with an east-west orientation. Further basreliefs are carved into the living rock of the hilltop shrine.

The construction stone used at Dainzú is mainly river cobbles formed from volcanic rock such as basalt.

Building A is a large platform built against the west-facing hillside and has about 35 bas-reliefs carved into the southern side of its lower wall. Most of these represent ball-players, while four represent the four gods of the ballgame. Interspersed among the representations of ballplayers are a small number of bas-reliefs depicting priests making offerings, these stones are incised with calendrical dates and may represent specific rituals related to the ballgame.

Building B lies to the west of Building A. It is another large building, with various rooms, patios and stairways. At the northeast of Building B there is a tomb with a bas-relief of a jaguar carved into the stones that form the entrance. The head of the jaguar is etched into the lintel, with the jaguar's forelegs flanking the entrance. The site is located 1 km south of Highway 190 between the city of Oaxaca and Mitla. The site is open to the public.

Interpretation of reliefs

Although a minority of researchers suggest that the reliefs are of fighters, perhaps hurling stones, the strong consensus is that they portray ballplayers. According to researcher Heather Orr, the reliefs form a processional sequence, showing specific moments from a ritual "fixed ball game with human sacrifice as the final outcome".

See also

Notes

References

External links

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Jorge Balam
14 February 2016
Dainzú antigua población del 600 aC al 200 dC. Cuenta con juego de pelota u olamaliztli. La tumba 7 con dintel en forma de jaguar y jambas con las patas delanteras del mismo. Dainzú ó cerro de órganos
Jorge Balam
8 November 2016
Dainzú tiene la característica de haber sido construida sobre el lado poniente de la elevación que lleva su nombre. Cuenta con un juego de Pelota. Y una tumba con entrada en forma de Jaguar. Accesible
Flores De Oaxaca
29 November 2019
Maravilloso lugar
Jose Luis Martinez Mendez
Increíbles los grabados de juego de pelota
Kiv Ocampo
15 March 2021
Se ve bonita pero no tuve oportunidad de verla toda
Eduardo Higuera
16 April 2012
pequeño pero importante, al borde de la carretera
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