In the context of this artwork, explain the Prehispanic Structures of the Prehispanic Panel.
There are two main prehispanic structures in the panel. A palace in the top left of the panel, introduced above, and a thatched open air gathering place in the middle of the panel, pictured below. The thatched or palapa roof building is what has been used throughout the history of Oaxaca and is still occasionally used today. Note the red pods against the thatch. They are produced by guaje trees and contain edible seeds that some Oaxacans consider to be a delicacy. And the name Oaxaca is derived from the word guaje.
The palace-building evokes the design of the Palace of Mitla. Mitla was inhabited by Zapotec and Mixtec people when the Spaniards arrived in the State of Oaxaca in 1521. It was known as Mitclán and as the entry to the underworld and the Mixtecs and Zapotecs buried their dead here.Comparing the two images above, the palace as painted by García Bustos strongly resembles the palace at Mitla,. However, floating in the sky in the mural, it also evokes the feeling of Monte Albán which is located 400 meters above the valley floor where Oaxaca City sits. Monte Albán was not inhabited when the Spaniards conquered what is now the state of Oaxaca. Monte Albán was built over centuries by first leveling a mountain. In approximately 600 BC, Zapotecs from surrounding towns like San José de Mogote, gathered and created the first stage of their new city state. 900 years later it had some 40,000 inhabitants and enjoyed commerce with Tenochitlan and the Mayan world. Monte Albán was an advanced community with a calendar, similar to the Aztec calendar, written language, and among other features, a building dedicated to observing the heavens.
Aztec calendar Prehispanic Oaxaca City Oaxaca Mitla Mixtec Tenochitlan Zapotec Mayan thatched Zapotecs observing the heavens palapa written language Monte Albán mural left