Monte Alban was built around 500 bc by the Zapotecs. The city reached its peak in the classic period when most of the buildings were built or rebuilt. Despite the political turmoil in the city later on, it was never abandoned. In approximately 1400 AD an extraordinary set of grave goods were buried in the so called Tomb 7. It contained materials in Mixtec style that were placed there together with the bodies of nine people. Mitla on the other hand enjoyed its greatest spendor when Monte Alban began to decline (around 750 AD). Even ... (more)