Yagul 
How to get there
By bus from Oaxaca (town) in the direction of Mitla, alighting at the turning for Yagul and then proceeding on foot for 2km/1.3mi; by car from Oaxaca on the MEX 190 in the direction of Tehuantepec, after 34km/21mi turning off left to the excavation site 2km/1.3mi away.
Yagul, once an important secular and religious centre of the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, lies on the slope of a hill in the north-east of Tlacolula in the middle of countryside covered with high-growing cacti.
By bus from Oaxaca (town) in the direction of Mitla, alighting at the turning for Yagul and then proceeding on foot for 2km/1.3mi; by car from Oaxaca on the MEX 190 in the direction of Tehuantepec, after 34km/21mi turning off left to the excavation site 2km/1.3mi away.
Yagul, once an important secular and religious centre of the Zapotecs and Mixtecs, lies on the slope of a hill in the north-east of Tlacolula in the middle of countryside covered with high-growing cacti.
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Must-see attractions nearby:
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The temples and palaces, which are built on three levels, are dominated by a fortress situated on the summit, from which there is a view across the valley of Oaxaca.
History
Yagul (Zapotec: "old village") was already settled in the pre-Classic period in the phases of Monte Albán I and II (600 bc-ad 100). More than 30 graves, often arranged in pairs, have been discovered. This building activity reached its peak between ad 800 and 1200 (phase of Monte Albán IV), when, with the surrender of Monte Albán, the fall of the Zapotec empire began. At the same time the influence of the Mixtecs increased, and it is thought that Mitla, some 15km/9.3mi away, underwent a similar development. In spite of this it is still not really known for certain who actually built the pre-Columbian sites around Yagul. At the end of the 1950s the site was rediscovered and excavated and restored by the University of the Americas and the Instituto Nacional de Arqueología e Historia under the direction of Ignacio Bernal. Part of the site has still not been excavated.
History
Yagul (Zapotec: "old village") was already settled in the pre-Classic period in the phases of Monte Albán I and II (600 bc-ad 100). More than 30 graves, often arranged in pairs, have been discovered. This building activity reached its peak between ad 800 and 1200 (phase of Monte Albán IV), when, with the surrender of Monte Albán, the fall of the Zapotec empire began. At the same time the influence of the Mixtecs increased, and it is thought that Mitla, some 15km/9.3mi away, underwent a similar development. In spite of this it is still not really known for certain who actually built the pre-Columbian sites around Yagul. At the end of the 1950s the site was rediscovered and excavated and restored by the University of the Americas and the Instituto Nacional de Arqueología e Historia under the direction of Ignacio Bernal. Part of the site has still not been excavated.
Related Attractions
Ball Court
In the second row of buildings stands the ball court (juego de pelota), one of the largest and architecturally most perfect examples among those so far found in Meso-America. In common with all the other ball courts in Oaxaca, it lacks the heavy stone rings on the side walls which were normal elsewhere. In contrast to Monte Albán, however, there are no niches or marker stone here.
Fortress
The ascent to the fortress, which is surrounded by a massive defensive wall, is rather difficult, but worth the effort because of the unusual architectural style and the superb view. Tombs which have been found here date back to the epoch of Monte Albán I (600-200 bc).
Palace of the Six Patios
The last row of buildings is known as the Palace of the Six Patios (Palacio de los Seis Patios); here Zapotec buildings were also built over by the Mixtecs. In this sprawling labyrinth, which possibly served as living quarters for the elite, the rooms have between one and three entrances, leading to the patios. In a long narrow passageway, stone mosaic patterns in the style characteristic of Mitla can be seen.
Patio I
The large Patio I, surrounded by low terraces, adjoins to the west. The courtyard, which measures 30 3 36 m (98 3 118 ft) and contains several tombs with decorated façades, is bounded on the north by the Council Hall (Sala del Consejo).
Patio of the Triple Tomb
The lower, mainly excavated part of the site is the Patio of the Triple Tomb (Patio de la Triple Tumba), which comprises four temples and in the middle a sacrificial square. On the left-hand side of the square there is the sculpture of a seated toad which symbolises the rain god.
From a platform in the middle of the patio it is possible to go down through the left opening into a tomb which consists of three chambers. These have elaborate façades with human heads made of stone and contained the skeletons of dignitaries and rich burial offerings. Both sides of the memorial slab are decorated with finely-worked hieroglyphs.
From a platform in the middle of the patio it is possible to go down through the left opening into a tomb which consists of three chambers. These have elaborate façades with human heads made of stone and contained the skeletons of dignitaries and rich burial offerings. Both sides of the memorial slab are decorated with finely-worked hieroglyphs.
Yagul Surroundings
Caballito Blanca
Just before the turning for Yagul a track leads off to the right to the historically interesting Caballito Blanco. Here the remains of white drawings of stylised human figures can be seen on a stone wall. A stepped path leads up to the sparse remains of a building which resembles Building J of Monte Albán. Dating carried out here has produced the year 240 bc, towards the end of the Monte Albán II phase.
