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OAXACA, MEXICO

Slow Travel in Yagul
by Ron Mader

OAXACA WIKI

El respeto al derecho ajeno es la paz.
- Peace Notebook

FLICKR ALBUM: Yagul

The archaeological site of Yagul boasts the largest ball court found in Oaxaca's Eastern Valley.

Located near Mitla, the site is located on a beautiful hillside. See if you can spot the petroglyph markings on the cliffs as you approach the site.

ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeologists suggest that Yagul was settled by the Zapotecs during the beginning of the Monte Albán (500 AD). It flourished as an urban center after Monte Albán was abandoned (800 AD). The archaeological site itself is a giant maze - popular with children!

Some of these shelters provide archaeological and rock art evidence for the progress of nomadic hunter-gathers to incipient farmers. Ten thousand-year-old Cucurbitaceae seeds in one cave, Guilá Naquitz, are considered to be the earliest known evidence of domesticated plants in North America, while corn cob fragments from the same cave are said to be the earliest documented evidence for the domestication of maize.

LANGUAGE

Some say that Yagul means old village in the local Zapotec language.

WORLD HERITAGE

In 2010 this site was selected as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

VISITING?

LOCATION -- Yagul is 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of Oaxaca City.

TRANSPORTATION -- There are no direct buses to Yagul. You can rent a taxi or take a bus and ask to be let out at the entrance from the highway. It's a 20 minute walk to the archaeological site.

ACCESS - The site is administered by INAH and is open daily from 10am-5pm.