Building I, also known as Edificio I, is the southernmost of the three central structures (G, H, I) in Monte Albán’s Main Plaza, dating to the site’s Classic period around AD 200–900. As a temple platform within this Zapotec ceremonial center in Oaxaca, Mexico, it faces south and is part of the north-south spine that divides the plaza, potentially serving as an altar for rituals. Its significance lies in exemplifying the site’s organized layout and the integration of the central complex into the city’s administrative core [1] [3] [4].
Location and layout
Building I 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 southern end of the G-H-I chain that visually divides the esplanade into eastern and western halves. It is connected to Building H to the north, creating a line of conjoined structures with Building I at the south end. The layout is part of a cluster often considered a unified structural unit by scholars like Flannery and Marcus, with Building I specifically oriented toward the south [1] [3] [4].
Architecture and construction
Constructed during Monte Albán III (AD 200–900), Building I features a basamento with two bodies, typical of Zapotec architecture, which supported temple superstructures. The current structure dates primarily to 500–750 CE, though its foundations were laid much earlier, around 200–300 BCE. A notable architectural feature is the underground tunnel connecting it to an adjacent palace, designed to facilitate the discreet movement of priests and elites between the ceremonial spine and residential quarters [1] [3] [5].
Sculpture and epigraphy
Building I lacks documented sculpture or epigraphy specific to its exterior, though the central complex may include minor decorative elements shared with G and H. Iconography found within this group typically reflects Zapotec motifs of ritual authority and state-sponsored religion, communicating the power of the ruling lineage through monumental scale rather than inscribed text [3] [6].
Archaeological research
Excavated by Alfonso Caso during the 1931–1953 Monte Albán Project, Building I yielded an offering box containing pottery, confirming its role in ceremonial sanctification. Recent geophysical surveys (2021) by Marc N. Levine et al. have revealed buried structures beneath the plaza, providing context for the central line’s long-term evolution [7]. Scholars like Joyce Marcus note that the G-H-I group played a vital role in the sociopolitical transformation of the Zapotec state by centralizing ritual activity in the plaza’s heart [1] [4].
Visiting notes
Visitors can view Building I from the Main Plaza’s ground level, noting its southern orientation and symmetry with H and G. When viewed from the South Platform, Building I appears as the leading structure of the central division, providing an excellent perspective on the axial planning of the Zapotec capital [8].
References
- Marcus, Joyce, and Kent V. Flannery. (1996). Zapotec Civilization: How Urban Society Evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. Thames & Hudson. Provides the academic framework for the central spine’s role in Zapotec governance.
- 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 I.”
- 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.”
