Monte Albán is a major pre-Columbian archaeological site and the ancient capital of the Zapotec civilization in Mexico, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987 (together with the Historic Centre of Oaxaca). Occupied for over 1,500 years from around 500 BC to about AD 850, it features a monumental ceremonial center with grand plazas, pyramids, temples, a ball court, richly decorated tombs, and bas-reliefs including hieroglyphic inscriptions. The site's impressive urban planning, terraced architecture, and symbolic sacred landscape reflect advanced engineering and artistic achievements of Mesoamerican cultures, influenced by interactions with Teotihuacan and Maya traditions.