80 UNIT 1 PREHISPANIC MESOAMERICA
an important Zapotec royal family. Mitla, also in the eastern part of the valley, is the
best-known Postclassic site in the Oaxaca Valley.
Mitla was occupied continuously from the Early Formative period, but the cen-
ter’s florescence took place in the Postclassic period. It was during the Late Post-
classic period that the most important, and beautiful, building complexes were
constructed. Described in the sixteeth century as having two of the most impressive
and famous buildings in New Spain, Mitla is noted for the intricate mosaic veneer on
the façades of buildings and for its murals (Figure 2.2). Historical sources identify
Mitla as a Zapotec religious center where oracles were housed that were the focus of
pilgrimage and were consulted in the affairs of daily life. Mitla was a place where dis-
putes were negotiated among rival factions and may have been a location where po-
litical rulers received sanctions of authority from Zapotec priests.
Many sites in the Valley of Oaxaca show evidence of Mixtec influence in the Post-
classic period, although the precise nature of this influence is the subject of ongo-
ing debate. By the early part of the Postclassic period, the Mixtecs were becoming an
increasingly important and influential force within Mesoamerican (see the Mixtec
profile that follows). This is particularly true of artistic styles. According to both Mix-
tec and Zapotec historical traditions, intermarriage between Mixtec and Zapotec
noble families strengthened ties between the two groups, and this practice, ratherFigure 2.2 Stone mosaic façade of a palace building at the Postclassic-period city of Mitla,
Mexico. Photo by Marilyn Masson.