Seated Figure Wearing Serpent Mask LACMA M.75.136.11

The Zapotec civilization was an ancient Mesoamerican culture that flourished in the Valley of Oaxaca in what is now Mexico. The Zapotecs were one of the earliest civilizations in Mesoamerica, and their civilization was one of the most advanced and sophisticated of the time. The Zapotecs developed a complex system of writing, as well as impressive architectural and artistic achievements. The civilization reached its peak between 500 BC and AD 500, after which it began to decline. The Zapotecs were eventually conquered by the Aztecs, but their culture and traditions continue to be celebrated in modern-day Mexico.