<P> One characteristic of Monte Albán is the large number of carved stone monuments one encounters throughout the plaza . The earliest examples are the so - called `` Danzantes '' ( literally , dancers ) , found mostly in the vicinity of Building L and which represent naked men in contorted and twisted poses , some of them genitally mutilated . The figures are said to represent sacrificial victims , which explains the morbid characteristics of the figures . The Danzantes feature physical traits characteristic of Olmec culture . The 19th century notion that they depict dancers is now largely discredited , and these monuments , dating to the earliest period of occupation at the site ( Monte Albán I ) , are now seen to clearly represent tortured , sacrificed war prisoners , some identified by name , and may depict leaders of competing centers and villages captured by Monte Albán. ( Blanton et al. 1996 ) Over 300 `` Danzantes '' stones have been recorded to date , and some of the better preserved ones can be viewed at the site 's museum . There is some indication that the Zapotecs had writing and calendrical notation . </P>
<P> One characteristic of Monte Albán is the large number of carved stone monuments one encounters throughout the plaza . The earliest examples are the so - called `` Danzantes '' ( literally , dancers ) , found mostly in the vicinity of Building L and which represent naked men in contorted and twisted poses , some of them genitally mutilated . The figures are said to represent sacrificial victims , which explains the morbid characteristics of the figures . The Danzantes feature physical traits characteristic of Olmec culture . The 19th century notion that they depict dancers is now largely discredited , and these monuments , dating to the earliest period of occupation at the site ( Monte Albán I ) , are now seen to clearly represent tortured , sacrificed war prisoners , some identified by name , and may depict leaders of competing centers and villages captured by Monte Albán. ( Blanton et al. 1996 ) Over 300 `` Danzantes '' stones have been recorded to date , and some of the better preserved ones can be viewed at the site 's museum . There is some indication that the Zapotecs had writing and calendrical notation . </P>
what do the dazante figures from monte alban depict
what do the dazante figures from monte alban depict
sacrificial victims
sacrificial victims