Yagul was first occupied around 500-100 BC. Around 500-700 AD, residential, civic and ceremonial structures were built at the site. However, most of the visible remains date to 1250-1521 AD, when the site functioned as the capital of a Postclassic city-state.[4]
The site was excavated in the 1950s and 60s by archaeologists Ignacio Bernal and John Paddock.[2][5]
Vestiges of human habitation in the area, namely cliff paintings at Caballito Blanco, date to at least 3000 BC. After the abandonment of Monte Albán about 800 AD, the region's inhabitants established themselves in various small centers such as Lambityeco, Mitla and Yagul.[1]
Yagul is located just off Highway 190 between the city of Oaxaca and Mitla, about 36 km from the former.[1] The site is situated on a volcanic outcrop surrounded by fertile alluvial land,[2] in the Tlacolula arm of the Valley of Oaxaca.[6] The Salado river flows to the south.[2]
Occupation at Yagul dates as far back as the Middle to Late Preclassic. Elaborate Preclassic period burials have been excavated at Yagul, accompanied by ceramic effigy vessels that indicate the increasing influence of Monte Albán upon the local elite.[7]
In the Late Postclassic, immediately prior to the Spanish Conquest, Yagul had a population of more than 6000 people.[8]
Yagul is one of the most studied archaeological sites in the Valley of Oaxaca.[8] This important prehispanic centers name literally means "Old Stick" or "Old Tree", The site is set around a hill, and can be divided into three principal areas; the fortress, the ceremonial center and the residential areas.[9] The construction stone at Yagul is mainly river cobbles formed from volcanic rock such as basalt.[2] About 30 tombs have been found at Yagul, sometimes located in pairs. A few of these bear hieroglyphic inscriptions.[10]
Situated atop the cliffs to the northeast of the site and protected by natural and artificial walls, it has an excellent vantage point over the whole Tlacolula Valley.[11] It has several lookout points, including one reached by a narrow bridge.[1]
Unexcavated residential areas lie on terraces to the south, east and west of the hill.[1] Classic Period residences are to the northwest of the excavated ceremonial centre and lower class Postclassic residences are presumed to lie around the site core.[11]
The ceremonial center was excavated in 1974 by Bernal and Gamio.[12] It composes the vast majority of what has been excavated, and what can be seen today. The ceremonial center consists of a number of large patios bordered by monumental architecture, and also includes a ballcourt and an elite residential complex.[12] Some of the structures in this area are:
Ballcourt. The restored ballcourt has an east–west orientation and is the largest in the Valley of Oaxaca. A carved serpent's head, now in the Regional Museum in Oaxaca, was found fixed to the top of the south wall.[2][13] The ballcourt was built in the Classic Period between 500 and 700 AD, and then widened between 700 and 900 AD.[1] It has a total length of 47 meters and a central field length of 30 meters, and is 6 meters wide.[14]
Palace of the Six Patios. This is a labyrinthine structure formed of an intricate complex of passageways and many rooms. It is formed of three elite complexes, each with two patios surrounded by rooms. In each pair of patios, the northern was probably a residence and the southern was possibly the administrative area. A tomb entrance is found in each patio.[1] The same layout is found at the nearby site of Mitla although the two sites were probably independent.[2] The walls are faced with dressed stones and stucco over a rough stone and clay core, the floors were of red stucco.[15] Patio F is somewhat different from the others in the complex in that it opened out onto the ballcourt and lower patio complexes and appears to have had a more public function. It had a low bench situated within a room that would have been visible to the areas below and may have been intended for the reception of visitors.[12] The palace complex also included a temple.[16]
Patio 1 is a large open area immediately southeast of the Palace of the Six Patios. It has rooms on all sides except the south side. Immediately to the south of Patio 1 is a temple.[2]
Patio 4 lies to the southeast of the ballcourt and is part of a temple-patio-altar complex formed from four mounds around a central altar. It was in use from at least the Classic Period through to the Postclassic. A sculpture of a frog-effigy lies at the base of the eastern mound.[2]
Tomb 30. This Postclassic tomb lies underneath Patio 4. It is formed of three chambers with decorated panels, the principal chamber has a facade decorated with two human heads carved in stone. The door to the tomb is a stone slab with hieroglyphic inscriptions on both sides.[9][11]
Council Chamber. This is a long, narrow chamber with an east–west orientation, lying to the south of a narrow "street". It was once decorated with stone mosaics and was entered via steps from Patio 1, which lies immediately to the south. The entrance is divided into 3 sections by two 2-meter wide pillars. Due to its non-residential nature and its lack of a shrine or temple, this room is presumed to have been administrative in function.[1][17]
Decorated Street. This narrow "street" runs in an east–west direction between the Palace of the Six Patios to the north and the Council Chamber to the south. Its southern wall is over 40 meters long and was decorated with geometric stone mosaics similar to those at Mitla.[1]
Building U. This building was built on an artificial platform in the northern part of the site, a tomb lies under its floor. It is reached by a stairway to the south and has a good view across most of the site.[1]
Winter, Marcus (1998). Oaxaca: The Archaeological Record. Indian peoples of Mexico series. Alberto Beltrán (illus.) (2nd ed.). México, D.F.: Minutiae Mexicana. ISBN968-7074-31-0. OCLC26752490.
