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Guiengola
16.3858° N, -95.3233° E
About
Guiengola is a Zapotec archeological site located 14 km (8.7 mi) north of Tehuantepec, and 243 km (151 mi) southeast of Oaxaca city on Federal Highway 190. The visible ruins are located between a hill and a river, each carries the name of Guiengola. The name means "large stone" in the local variant of the Zapotec language. There are two main tombs that have been excavated, and both seem to be family interment sites. Both have front chambers that are for religious idols, while the rear chambers are for the burial of important people. The site also has fortified walls, houses, ballgame fields, other tombs and a very large "palace" with remains of artificial ponds and terraces. In the center of the site are 2 plazas, one lower than the other, and 2 pyramids, one to the east and one to the west.
Historical Timeline
Journey through time and discover key events in this site's history
Oto-manguean divergence
c. 1500 BCE
Zapotec origins
late 6th century BCE
Earliest known Zapotec writing (Monument 3)
c. 500–600 BCE
City construction (Post-Classic)
1350–1521
Ahuizotl's campaigns and Cocijoeza's defense
1486–1502
Early archaeological investigations
1892
Subsequent 19th-century study
1896
Modern research
1970s
Archaeological Features
Unique architectural and cultural elements found at this historical site
Defensive Structures
Water Management Features
Public and Civic Structures
Burial and Funerary Structures
Religious and Ritual Structures
Agricultural and Land Use Features
Domestic and Habitation Structures
Environmental and Natural Features
Frequently Asked Questions
Plan Your Visit
Tours, travel arrangements, and practical information
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