Zona Arqueologica de Atzompa (Atzompa Archaeological Zone), Oaxaca

Located on the windswept slopes of Cerro del Bonete, the Atzompa Archaeological Zone was once a thriving satellite of the great Zapotec capital at Monte Albán. Founded around 650 AD in the heart of the Classic period, this settlement combined residential palaces, three ceremonial plazas, and multiple ball courts-including the largest known in the Oaxaca region-to house the nobility and project Zapotec power across the valley.

From its lofty terraces, residents kept vigilant watch over the Etla Valley and maintained visual contact with Monte Albán itself, underscoring Atzompa’s dual role as both elite suburb and strategic lookout point until its abandonment around 900 AD, coinciding with Monte Albán’s own decline.

Although first probed by archaeologists in 1937, Atzompa only fully revealed its secrets in the early 21st century, when systematic excavations uncovered monumental structures, intricately carved stone walls, and high-status residential complexes.

Today visitors can wander among these ruins-reconstructed pottery kilns on the site’s northern flank demonstrate that ceramic traditions here endure to this day-and marvel at fine ceramic shards, funeral urns, and the foundations of opulent Zapotec homes.

With its mix of historical depth, scenic panoramas of the Etla Valley, and surrounding vegetation, the Zona Arqueológica de Atzompa offers both a window into Zapotec urban planning and a peaceful landscape for hiking and reflection.