Talk:Yagul Natural Monument

Material moved for merging

Given there's an existing developed article on the archaeological site Yagul, I've begun a rewrite to focus this more on the protected area aspect. Although the site of Yagul does take up the lion's share of this protected area, the area does include some other outlier and/or unrelated archaeological groups; plus the scope of the area's protection is more than just the precolumbian remains.

I removed a para from here that was really just about the arch. site; bits of this could be merged/transferred to the Yagul article if not already covered there. Alternatively, with some further rewriting as a summary bits can be added back in here. This is what was taken out:

It flourished as an urban centre, following the abandonment of Monte Alban around 800 BC. Archaeological evidences also suggest that human settlement existed at Yagul during early 3000 BC. Yagul prospered as urban conglomerate. However, even Yagul was abandoned for a brief period, before it became a city-state in Oaxaca. This status continued till the Spanish Conquistadores invaded the valley, which was then a settlement of Zapotecs (they continue inhabit this area even now).

The historic ‘yagul’, which literally means the “Old stick,” is a fortified complex laid out in three zones; the central part approached through a series of steps is a built-up platform that leads to the temples and palaces. It has the largest ball court in the valley and stated to be the largest in the Mesoamerican region. The palace of the rulers is an enormous monolith with six porticos and several entrances, built in stone and clay and covered with stucco. A throne is seen in the northwestern patio of the southern room. Cruciform tombs are located to the west of the porticos; of these tombs, the triple tomb is known as the 'Frog' and four temples encircle it. The temple on the east is on the lower part, which is a huge monolith with depiction of an animal figure that has been deciphered as a frog or a jaguar. The 'Triple Tomb', constructed around 600 BC was in use until 950 AD. The main tomb has a stone façade, which is beautified with carved human heads. Hieroglyphic motifs are seen on the door slab on both sides. To the south of the Palace of the Six Porticos, there is a narrow street that is paved with stone mosaics extracted from the nearby mountain. The street terminates in to a long, narrow room called the 'Sala de Consejo' (Council Chamber).

Regards --cjllw ʘ TALK 15:41, 17 September 2010 (UTC)