LISS.398A TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT and HUMAN ADAPTATION:
PART II PRE-EUROPEAN
MESOAMERICA
MONTE ALBAN II (200 B.C.-300 A.D.)
During this phase, the population at Monte Albán declines somewhat to from its
Monte Albán Late I
level to about 14,500. But the elaboration of the
Main Plaza
area continues. The leveling of the area is begun, an undertaking involving removal of substantial quantities of limestone caprock and
using it to fill natural depressions -- a substantial engineering feat (But, remember, they had 500 years to complete it.).
By the end of this phase the basic outlines of the Plaza probably looked rather like the do now.
RESIDENTIAL ARCHITECTURE
Both open and semi-closed
household units
are observed with considerable variation in the form of the latter. Little variation among households in burials or artifacts.
PUBLIC ARCHITECTURE
Public construction during
Monte Albán II
includes the leveling of the
Main Plaza,
Mound J,
the early stages of the
central structures
(Buildings G, H and I), the
ballcourt
and other buildings (P, S, Q) on the
east side
of the Main Plaza and the
adoratorio
between buildings H and P. To the north,
Mound G
in the
North Platform
as well as parts of
Mound X
to the northeast of the
North Platform
also dat to this period.
Material specific to this period is drawn from:
Flannery '83,
Marcus '83b,
Robertson '83.
Colorado School of Mines
Division of Liberal Arts and International Studies
Dr. Joseph D. Sneed
jsneed@mines.edu
