Monte Albán — System M
System M is a temple-patio-altar complex at Monte Albán, located in the southwest corner of the Main Plaza, featuring a private courtyard, broad staircases, and symmetric to System IV, serving ceremonial functions.
Location and layout
System M is positioned in the far southwest corner of Monte Albán’s Main Plaza, which spans approximately 300 m (984 ft) by 200 m (656 ft), serving as a corner boundary to the site and part of the western row of symmetrical complexes including System IV and the Danzantes structure (Building L). The layout features a temple-patio-temple arrangement with a courtyard between two buildings, enclosed by low walls to the north and south, and a central altar with stairs to the east and west at the edges of a private patio area cut off from outside view. It includes a broad impressive staircase leading to the rear temple, with underground tunnels and a sunken courtyard, facilitating ritual seclusion, relating closely to the overall processional design and adjacent features like the South Platform. [1] [3]
Architecture and construction
Constructed during Monte Albán II–III (100 BCE–AD 600), System M exemplifies Zapotec ceremonial architecture with adobe walls, likely topped with flat wood/earthen roofs, resting atop stone foundations, and cornices featuring double scapular decorative trim common to the site. The complex includes a sunken courtyard and underground tunnels, with the rear temple accessed by a broad staircase, reflecting phased development aligned with the site’s expansion. Surfaces were finished with stucco plaster, and orientations emphasize privacy and ritual seclusion, without evidence of major later modifications. [1] [3]
Sculpture and epigraphy
System M is associated with stelae, including potential calendar or ritual glyphs, reflecting Zapotec iconography, with no additional sculptures or epigraphy directly tied to the complex documented in detail, but symmetric to System IV’s Stele 18. [1] [4]
Archaeological research
Excavated as part of Alfonso Caso’s 1931–1953 Monte Albán Project using stratigraphic and ceramic analysis, System M was documented for its symmetrical design and boundary role. Modern studies integrate geophysical surveys and 3D modeling, affirming its ceremonial function without resolving debates on exact phasing due to limited artifacts. [3] [5]
Visiting notes
Visitors can appreciate System M from the Main Plaza’s southwest edge, ascending the broad staircase to observe the courtyard and temple outlines, following a counterclockwise path that highlights its symmetry with System IV and role in site boundaries. The site is open daily from 10 AM to 4 PM, with general admission at MXN$95. [6]
Related MAHC WIKI entries
- System IV
- Main Plaza
- Building L
- South Platform
References
- Sullivan, Mary Ann. (n.d.). “Monte Albán: System M.” Bluffton University. https://homepages.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/mexico/oaxaca/montealban/systemm.html. Detailed description and images.
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre. (1987). “Historic Centre of Oaxaca and Archaeological Site of Monte Albán.” https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/415/. Official listing.
- Roam. (n.d.). “The Ultimate Guide to Visit the Ruins of Monte Alban in Oaxaca.” Life on the Roam. https://lifeontheroam.com/monte-alban-oaxaca/. Visitor guide with structural details.
- Marcus, Joyce, and Kent V. Flannery. (1996). Zapotec Civilization: How Urban Society Evolved in Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley. Thames & Hudson. Overview of Zapotec archaeology.
- Caso, Alfonso, Ignacio Bernal, and Jorge R. Acosta. (1967). La Cerámica de Monte Albán. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH). Excavation reports.
- INAH. “Monte Albán.” Lugares INAH. https://lugares.inah.gob.mx/en/node/4351. Site description.
