Mexico Guide
Oaxaca
Dainzú
A Zapotec centre broadly contemporary with Monte Albán, around 600 BC, Dainzú (daily 8am–6pm; M$50, free on Sun) stands only partially excavated in a harsh landscape of cactus-covered hills. The carvings are reminiscent in style, rather than scale, of Los Danzantes at Monte Albán, most notably Edificio A, a tomb adorned with a magnificently carved jaguar head; it's the first structure you come across when you enter the site, a large and rambling construction set around a courtyard and with elements from several epochs. Nearby is the ball-court, only one side of which has been reconstructed, and higher up the hill Edificio B is the best-preserved part of the site. Along the far side of its base a series of dancer figures can be made out, similar to the Monte Albán dancers except that these clearly represent ball-players. Barely unearthed, the main allure of Dainzú resides in its raw appeal, with few tourists or imposing facilities to detract from soulful contemplation.