. Ancient civilizations of Mexico and Central America. Indians of Mexico; Indians of Central America. THE MIDDLE CIVILIZATIONS 157 the twelfth century and that such similarities as exist between the forms of Zapotecan sculptural art and those o( the Toltec cities of Xochicalco and Te- otiliuaean in central Mexico, on the one hand, and those of Pipil and Chorotegan sites in Guatemala and Salvador, on the other hand, are to be explained by intercommunications under the Toltec OOO ooo Fig. 53. Bar and Dot Numerals combined with Hieroglyphs on Zapotecan Monuments. Monte Alban and Mitla st
. Ancient civilizations of Mexico and Central America. Indians of Mexico; Indians of Central America. THE MIDDLE CIVILIZATIONS 157 the twelfth century and that such similarities as exist between the forms of Zapotecan sculptural art and those o( the Toltec cities of Xochicalco and Te- otiliuaean in central Mexico, on the one hand, and those of Pipil and Chorotegan sites in Guatemala and Salvador, on the other hand, are to be explained by intercommunications under the Toltec OOO ooo Fig. 53. Bar and Dot Numerals combined with Hieroglyphs on Zapotecan Monuments. Monte Alban and Mitla stand in strong contrast to each other, the first crowning a mountain ridge, the second occupying a valley site. Monte Alban has no buildings intact, but shows a vast assemblage oF enormous pyramids and platforms. Mitla has only one small pyramid, but Coasts a series of finely preserved temples on low platform bases. In Monte Alban we find monolithic monuments com- parable to the stelae of the Mayas, and carrying hieroglyphic inscriptions: also pottery figurines and jade amulets in a style which follows rather closely the models developed in the early cities of the humid lowlands. At Mitla there are none of these things: instead, the architectural decoration shows a most interesting use of textile designs treated in a mosaic of cut stones. It is apparent then that a long record of high culture is to be found in the Zapotecan field. At Monte Alban there are one or two narrow vaulted chambers in mounds, but on the tops of the mounds the few excavations have disclosed only. Please note that these images are extracted from scanned page images that may have been digitally enhanced for readability - coloration and appearance of these illustrations may not perfectly resemble the original Spinden, Herbert Joseph, 1879-1967. New York : American Museum of Natural History
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