LISS.398A TECHNOLOGY, ENVIRONMENT and HUMAN ADAPTATION:
PART II PRE-EUROPEAN MESOAMERICA

Its peculiar arrow-like shape (replicated at Cabillito Blanco (Structure O) in the Tlacolula Arm of the Valley, and possibly in the Main Plaza at San José Mogote.) and orientation have suggested to some that Mound J might have functioned as an “astronomical observatory”. However, no evidence of orientation toward specific celestial objects and/or events has been provided.

Among the distinctive features of Mound J is the more than 50 carved stones (from Monte Albán II) suggested by Caso ( Caso '‘38, Caso '47) to indicate locations conquered by Monte Albán. Many of these were found in their present location in the second and third tiers of the structure and simply included in its consolidation together with others found in around the base of the partially collapsed walls. Still others remain scattered around the structure.

Most these stones contain a:

location glyph

stylized image of a “hill” (common to all stones) widely used in Mesoamerica writing systems as a location indicator -- “the hill of ..”, “the place of...”

place name

glyph (s) (different on different stones) placed above the location glyph denoting specific locations

human head

upside down below the location glyph with headdress (different on different stones) interpreted as representing the ruler (subjugated, dead, decapitated?) of the place denoted by the location glyph + place name situated above it

hieroglyphic text

sometimes present, including date and other glyphs interpreted to be the date and circumstances of the conquest of the place denoted by accompanying the location glyph + place name

By comparing the place names with those appearing in a 16th century Aztec document listing places in Oaxaca paying tribute to them, Marcus ( Marcus '‘76) has tentatively identified four of the locations appearing on these stones:

Mihuapan

possibly an alternative name for Miahuatlán a town just outside the Valley of Oaxaca some 85 km south of Monte Albán

Cuicatlán

a town outside the Valley of Oaxaca, across a mountain pass about 85 km northeast of Monte Albán

Tototepec

an alternative name for the town of Tututepec a town on the Pacific Coast 145 km from Monte Albán

Ocelotepec

a district south of Miahuatlán some 140 km from Monte Albán