This skull from one of the tombs uncovered in the royal compound show that the ruling class inlaid semi-precious stones in their front teeth.
They also engaged in live trepanation as part of cures performed by their priests. The skull bone shows evidence of partial healing - indicating that the patient was alive for some time after the trepanations.
Numerous treasures were discovered in the many tombs found in Monte Alban. The containers had food for the travel to the after world.
We drive out of the city and up a low mountain range from which we can see the city and the valley below.
The remarkable thing about Monte Alban is that it was founded in 500 BC as a theocratic hierarchical society. It was a Zapotec city dominant - and extracting tribute - over the whole valley and as far away as Mexico City (Teotihuacan) for over 1000 years. 
Here is the group gathering at the side of the building complex. To build Monte Alban, the Zapotecs flattened the mountain ridge at an altitude of 6300 feet. The site has been extensively reconstructed, although there are many known archaeological zones in it still not excavated.
This is a nice specimen of the jacaranda tree. At this time of year it is full of lavender or violet flowers.
Here we are in Monte Alban.
The ball court.
Excavations found a large number of residential and civic-ceremonial structures and hundreds of tombs and burials. This is the enormous central plaza. The site’s main civic-ceremonial and elite-residential structures are located around it or in its immediate vicinity.
I climbed the steep steps of the south platform just ahead of the Brewers on the way up.
A school group.
Houses had their own burial chambers in the basement.
The Bienvenidos (welcome) gates to the city. This small village is neat. It is only 6 miles from the city of Oaxaca.
A street in Tule.
To the right side of the plaza - in the back - is the spectacular 2000+year-old Tule cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) tree. 
It is the thickest living tree in the world with a trunk circumference of 136 feet.
Tule has a very pretty and clean central plaza in the Spanish colonial tradition. Close to the giant Tule tree is this very nice round semi-open Artisans Market. We bought local hand-made clothing articles of good quality here.
We had a number of dinners at this local comedor. The margaritas were quite weak unless we specifically asked for enough cointreau and mezcal anejo in the drink.
Climbing the hill behind a Mexican bus. We are following the Brewers' Country Coach. The yellow unit on the dashboard is our old GPS receiver.
Most of Oaxaca is semi-arid.
We got our first taste of real mountain driving in this caravan. There would be much worse to come on the descent from the plateau to the Gulf of Mexico later.
Finally reached the high plateau.
This is our rig photographed from the rear by Anne Lane. Notice our black hitch mounted 4 Kilowatt generator module. It was totally essential in this caravan. 
By the end of the day we have crossed tropical mountains and into semi-desert landscapes very reminiscent of the Western US. The closer we got to the Pacific coast, the dryer and rockier.
We leave Villahermosa early and in foggy conditions. Here we are crossing one of the large rivers emptying into the Gulf.
Along the way we cross numerous small villages strung along the main North-South highway between the Gulf coast and the Pacific coast. Here is a contrast between the modern motorcycle and the hammock strung between poles to its right. Remember you can zoom the image by double-clicking it. Use the browser Back button to continue.
The local Home Depot.
A Mini-Super (Market). There are millions of these small general stores and lunch rooms all over Mexico. This one serves liquor in the thatched outdoor dining area to its left.
As we approach Tehuantepec and as the land becomes more arid, mountainous, and hostile indications of poverty and backwardness increase. There is an old style truck.
And an old style plow tractor.
At the end of a long day of driving we wind our way through a small village to the campground entrance. The entrance is an earth embankment dropping off the right of this street. It was scary to even contemplate driving our big rig down there.
Well we made it, but with scratches to the RV roof.
In the evening we are treated to an introduction by the old owner of the place - it is both a mango plantation and campground. He is a village elder and participates in managing the festivals in the town. We are treated to dinner among the mangoes, and to a traditional dress show and recreation of a marriage ceremony.
To the left are our dining tables.
These young ladies model the traditional costumes of the area.
Mike and Eileen from Alberta are the good sports that agreed to serve as the model bride and groom.
Teri carries the earthenware with confetti. At the end she will drop it in front of the couple and it will smash in many pieces.
