Guiengola is an archaeological site of the Zapotec culture

Guiengola is an archaeological site of the Zapotec culture located about 14 km northwest of Tehuantepec, 1 and 243 km southeast of the city of Oaxaca on highway 190. The ruins are visible between the river and the hill, both the name of Guiengola. The name means "big rock" in the local language Zapoteca.2

There are two main tombs have been excavated, and both seem to be intermittent family burial sites. Both have front cameras for religious idols, while the cameras are back for the funeral of people important.3

The site has walls, houses, golf ball game, other tombs and a large "palace" with traces of artificial ponds and terrazas.1 In the center of the site there are 2 places, one lower than the other, and two 2 pyramids , one east and one west



This native civilization flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca in southern Mesoamerica. There is archaeological evidence with evidence of culture at least 2500 years ago. They left archaeological evidence in the ancient city of Monte Alban in buildings, ball game courts, magnificent tombs and grave goods including finely worked gold jewelry. Monte Alban was one of the major cities of Mesoamerica in the center of the Zapotec state, who dominated most of the current state of Oaxaca.

The Zapotec initiated a Phase 1 expansion during Late Monte Alban (400 BC - 100 BC) and during Phase 2 (100 BC - AD 200). Zapotec rulers began to take control of provinces outside the Valley of Oaxaca. They did this from about 200 BC to 100 AD, because none of the provinces could compete with them, politically or militarily


Because of its location, shape and construction system, it is believed that Guiengola was a fortified site guarding and defending where the Zapotec of attacks by hostile groups. It is also likely to be the administrative center of the Isthmus Zapotec kingdom at the time of Spanish conquest.



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