Monte Albán — Building L

Building L is an early ceremonial structure at Monte Albán, renowned for its association with the Danzantes carvings and representing one of the site’s oldest architectural features from the Zapotec founding phase.

Building L, also known as Edificio L or the Building of the Danzantes, is a prominent ceremonial structure situated in the southwest corner of Monte Albán’s Main Plaza, dating primarily to the site’s founding phase around 500–100 BCE. As one of the earliest monumental buildings at this Zapotec ceremonial center in Oaxaca, Mexico, it features a buried substructure and served as a platform for ritual displays, underscoring the political and religious authority of early Monte Albán elites. Its significance lies in marking the transition to urbanism in the region, with architectural elements like stairways and revetment walls highlighting Zapotec engineering prowess. [1] [3]

Location and layout

Building L is positioned in the southwest corner of Monte Albán’s Main Plaza, forming part of the western row of structures that border this central esplanade, which measures approximately 300 m (984 ft) by 200 m (656 ft). The building overlooks the plaza from an elevated platform, accessible via a central stairway with 11 steps leading to a flat stucco surface. To the north, a tunnel connects to adjacent areas, revealing additional stairways and balustrades. Its orientation aligns with the overall north-south axis of the plaza, relating closely to nearby features like Building M to the south and the central Building J, emphasizing its integration into the site’s processional layout. Measurements indicate a complex spatial relationship, with features like internal walls offset by about 52 cm (20.5 in). [1] [4]

Architecture and construction

Constructed during Monte Albán I (500–100 BCE), Building L exemplifies early Zapotec building techniques, including rubble-core platforms faced with large rectangular stone slabs (orthostats) in alternating vertical and horizontal rows. The structure includes a stepped platform with talud-sloping walls, similar to a 6 m (19.7 ft) high example in nearby Mound K, and a stairway flanked by balustrades. Construction phases reveal a sequence: an initial revetment wall, followed by a pyramidal platform, and later additions buried under Classic period (100 BCE–AD 900) overlays that truncated the original edifice to the north and south. Surfaces were finished with stucco plaster, and alignments suggest ritual orientations. Scholarly analysis attributes variations in wall placements to phased expansions, with no evidence of speculation on unconfirmed elements. [1] [5]

Sculpture and epigraphy

Building L is distinguished by its revetment wall adorned with carved stone slabs known as Danzantes, depicting over 300 nude, contorted figures interpreted as sacrificial victims or captives, often with accompanying glyphs and blood scrolls. These pecked carvings, arranged in alternating upright and horizontal rows, include hieroglyphic elements like naming signs and dates, reflecting early Zapotec iconography with Olmec influences. While the Danzantes are central to the feature’s identity, detailed analysis of their symbolism and interpretations is covered in the related entry on the Danzantes. Some slabs were reused in later constructions across the site. [1] [3]

Archaeological research

Early documentation of Building L occurred in 1806 by Guillermo Dupaix, followed by Leopoldo Batres’ 1902 excavations. Major investigations were led by Alfonso Caso during the 1931–1949 Monte Albán Project, uncovering the stairway, stepped platform, and Danzantes wall, with ceramic sherds confirming late Monte Albán I dating. In the 1990s, Marcus Winter’s Proyecto Especial Monte Albán explored the North Tunnel, revealing construction sequences and burials. Heather S. Orr’s 2002 analysis documented Area L-North through test pits (7.05 m deep) and stratigraphic studies, integrating geophysical data. Modern research employs radiocarbon dating and ceramic phasing, affirming the structure’s role in early state formation without resolving all debates on exact dimensions due to overlays. [1] [6]

Visiting notes

Visitors can best appreciate Building L from the Main Plaza’s ground level, ascending the central stairway to observe the revetment wall and Danzantes gallery up close, following a counterclockwise interpretive path that highlights processional ascent. The site’s elevated position offers vantage points integrating the structure with the surrounding plaza, aiding understanding of ritual movement from the southwest entry. [4]

Related MAHC WIKI entries

Main Plaza
Danzantes
Building J
South Platform

References

Orr, Heather S. (2002). “Danzantes of Building L at Monte Albán.” Foundation for the Advancement of Mesoamerican Studies, Inc. (FAMSI). http://www.famsi.org/reports/93003/93003Orr01.pdf. Technical report on excavations and analysis.
UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1987). “Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán.” https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/415/. Official listing and description.
Marcus, Joyce, and Kent V. Flannery. (1996). Zapotec Civilization: How Urban Society Evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. Thames & Hudson. Scholarly overview of Zapotec archaeology.
INAH. “Monte Albán.” Lugares INAH. https://lugares.inah.gob.mx/en/node/4351. Official site description and visitor information.
Urcid, Javier, and Arthur A. Joyce. (2014). “Early Transformations of Monte Albán’s Main Plaza and Their Political Implications, 500 BC–AD 200.” In Mesoamerican Plazas. University Press of Colorado. https://www.colorado.edu/rioverdearchaeology/sites/default/files/attached-files/urcid_and_joyce_2014.pdf. Analysis of architectural phases.
Caso, Alfonso, Ignacio Bernal, and Jorge R. Acosta. (1967). La Cerámica de Monte Albán. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH). Ceramic chronology and excavation reports.