Building G, also known as Edificio G, is the northernmost of the three central structures (G, H, I) in Monte Albán’s Main Plaza, dating to the site’s Classic period around AD 250–700. As a temple platform within this Zapotec ceremonial center in Oaxaca, Mexico, it faces north toward Building J and the North Platform, contributing to the plaza’s division into eastern and western halves. Its significance lies in exemplifying the site’s architectural organization and its role in a centralized administrative spine, potentially serving as part of a grand altar for state rituals [1] [3] [4].
Location and layout
Building G is located in the center of Monte Albán’s Main Plaza, which measures approximately 300 m (984 ft) by 200 m (656 ft), forming the northern end of the G-H-I chain that visually divides the esplanade. It faces north, toward both Building J and the North Platform, while connected to Building H to the south. This positioning underscores its role in the site’s processional and ceremonial landscape, acting as a visual and ritual pivot point for those entering the plaza from the north [3] [4].
Architecture and construction
Constructed during Monte Albán III (AD 250–700), Building G is a temple platform built using masonry and stone. It belongs to the Classic Period and Terminal Formative Period styles, with the surviving building dating to about 500–750 CE, though foundations were begun as early as 200–300 BCE. The structure is part of a conjoined group with H and I, which Flannery and Marcus analyze as a unified administrative core. Architecture includes a basamento, reflecting the phased development of the plaza’s evolution [1] [5] [3].
Sculpture and epigraphy
Building G lacks documented sculpture or epigraphy specific to its exterior, consistent with the other structures in the central spine. Iconography within this group typically reflects Zapotec motifs of ritual and authority, emphasizing the state’s power through monumental presence and strategic placement in the city’s ceremonial heart [3] [6].
Archaeological research
Excavated by Alfonso Caso during the 1931–1953 Monte Albán Project, Building G was studied for its role in the central plaza’s division. Andrew Coe suggests the G-H-I complex acted as a great altar, with H as the focus. Recent geophysical surveys by Levine et al. (2021) have revealed buried structures beneath the plaza, providing context for the long-term sociopolitical role of the central area [7]. Scholars continue to debate whether G, H, and I were viewed as separate entities or a single unified structure for state ceremonies [3] [4].
Visiting notes
Visitors can view Building G from the Main Plaza’s ground level, noting its northern orientation and symmetry with H and I. It is particularly well-viewed from the North Platform, which offers a clear perspective on how Building G anchors the northern end of the central spine [8].
References
- Marcus, Joyce, and Kent V. Flannery. (1996). Zapotec Civilization: How Urban Society Evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. Thames & Hudson. The definitive study of the central spine’s role in the Zapotec state.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1987). “Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán.”
- Sullivan, Mary Ann. (n.d.). “Monte Albán: Buildings in the Center of the Grand Plaza.” Bluffton University.
- On the Road in Mexico. “Monte Albán – Central Plaza Buildings.” Reference Link.
- Texas Tech University Libraries. “Arch Design Images · Building G.”
- Department of the Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas. (2001). “Monte Albán: Sacred Architecture.” Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Levine, Marc N., et al. (2021). “Monte Albán’s Hidden Past.” Latin American Antiquity.
- Sailing Stone Travel. (2023). “Visiting Monte Albán.”
