Oaxca 3 Monte Alban

Just outside of the city of Oaxaca is a high plateau with the Zapotec city of Monte Alban on top. Well, it's not really a plateau. They cut the top off and flattened it to expand the city. This was, at one time the main city of the Zapotecs. A close look at the carving seems to indicate a figure with his intestines hanging out. There was a collection of these sort of carvings that are perhaps sacrificed captives.

The city was abandoned for unknown reasons but remained a sacred site. Perhaps the fact that it has no natural water limited its ability to sustain a large population. But we reckon it was just too hot. It certainly was the day we were there.