Monte Alban is a ruins site situated outside of Oaxaca City. Monte Alban means white mountain, it was named so due to the white flowering trees that grow in the area.

This site facilitated defence and celebrations of a religious type. The Zapatoces leveled off the summit and cut away the rocky side of the mountain  to create an extraordinary rectangular plaza 300 meters wide and 200 meters deep, surrounded by platforms with board stairways, pyramids, temples and, at one end, the pelota court.

This is the site where tomb seven is located. Gold jewellery, turquoise, jade and shell, along with alabaster, pottery and bone were found in this area.

The Pelota ball court

The Gran Plaza : built on the leveled surface

The Pelota ball court at Monte Alban is different to other Mayan courts. The court was covered in stucco and the scoring point of the court was located in the corners of the square. The game was played by bouncing a ball from the players' torso around the court. One thing remains in common with other areas of the Mesoamerican kingdoms however. i.e.  that the captain of the winning team was sacrificed to the Gods. This seems to be a high price to pay for being a talented sports person.