Ancient palace complex (300–100 BC) discovered in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico

Abstract

Recently completed excavations at the site of El Palenque in Mexico's Valley of Oaxaca have recovered the well-preserved remains of a palace complex dated by associated radiocarbon samples and ceramics to the Late Formative period or Late Monte Albán I phase (300-100 BC), the period of archaic state emergence in the region. The El Palenque palace exhibits certain architectural and organizational features similar to the royal palaces of much later Mesoamerican states described by Colonial-period sources. The excavation data document a multifunctional palace complex covering a maximum estimated area of 2,790 m on the north side of the site's plaza and consisting of both governmental and residential components. The data indicate that the palace complex was designed and built as a single construction. The palace complex at El Palenque is the oldest multifunctional palace excavated thus far in the Valley of Oaxaca.

The Izapa Kingdom's Capital: Formative Period Settlement Patterns, Population, and Dating Low-Relief Stelae

“…Single glyphs like those painted on the San Bartolo murals and the six known to be carved into stone monuments at Izapa (see Mora-Marin 2018) resemble each other because they are bar-and-dot numerals that name individuals with calendar names. The Late Formative period is also when El Palenque emerged as the center of a state in the Valley of Oaxaca during the Monte Albán I phase (300–100 BC) before being conquered by the expansionist Monte Albán during the Terminal Formative Monte Albán II phase (100 BC–AD 200; Redmond and Spencer 2017). The danzantes at Monte Albán also have isolated glyphs that presumably name individuals, just like at Izapa and San Bartolo.…”

The Teotihuacan Anomaly: The Historical Trajectory of Urban Design in ancient Central Mexico

“…The task for archaeologists is then to identify which structure at Teotihuacan was the palace. Unfortunately, none of the big architectural compounds provides a close fit for a royal palace as known from other Mesoamerican urban centers (Christie & Sarro, 2006;Estrada-Belli et al, 2009;Evans & Pillsbury, 2004;Flannery & Varner, 2015;Inomata & Houston, 2001;Nehammer Knub, Helmke, & Nielsen, 2015;Redmond & Spencer, 2017;Sheehy, 1996;Smith, 2008). I limit discussion here to likely royal palaces, leaving aside the separate issue of elite but non-royal palaces such as the Palacio de Quetzalpapalotl (Acosta, 1964).…”

The Teotihuacan Anomaly: The Historical Trajectory of Urban Design in Ancient Central Mexico

“…The task for archaeologists is then to identify which structure at Teotihuacan was the palace. Unfortunately, none of the big architectural compounds provides a close fit for a royal palace as known from other Mesoamerican urban centers (Christie & Sarro, 2006;EstradaBelli et al, 2009;Evans & Pillsbury, 2004;Flannery & Varner, 2015;Inomata & Houston, 2001;Nehammer Knub, Helmke, & Nielsen, 2015;Redmond & Spencer, 2017;Sheehy, 1996;Smith, 2008). I limit discussion here to likely royal palaces, leaving aside the separate issue of elite but non-royal palaces such as the Palacio de Quetzalpapalotl (Acosta, 1964).…”

“…-Variation in the size, form, and configuration of rooms, signaling the presence of multiple activities within the palace, as discussed by Sheehy (1996) and Redmond and Spencer (2017). -Presence of living quarters.…”

“…In addition, most Mesoamerican palaces-outside the Maya area-exhibit an integrated, unitary plan suggesting a pre-designed organization (Redmond & Spencer, 2017). Some Classic Maya palaces, by contrast, grew incrementally as successive kings enlarged and modified the structure (Schele & Mathews, 1998).…”