The Regional Museum of Oaxaca is housed in a beautiful green stone building attached to Santo Domingo Church. It contains the Zapotec treasures from Tomb Seven at Monte Alban. This and other archaeological sections make the most sense if you visit them after seeing some sites in the Central Valleys.

The Mixtec trove on the museum's lower floor dates from the mid 14th century, when the Mixtecs reused an old Zapotec tomb at Monte Alban to bury one of their kings and his sacrificed servants. Together with the bodies they placed a hoard of beautifully-worked silver, turquoise, coral, jade, amber, jet, pearls, finely carved jaguar and eagle bone, and gold. It was discovered in 1932 by Alfonso Caso. Other sections of the museum cover the history of Oaxaca State since the Spanish conquest, the states Indian people, its archaeology and the history of the Dominican order.

Photos above: Examples of the many Zapotec stone carvings and pottery that can be seen at the Oaxaca Regional Museum in the Historic Center of Oaxaca de Juárez.

The museum is generally open from 10 am. to 8 pm., Tuesday to Sunday. Entry is 20 pesos, free on Sunday and holidays.

Also see information in this web site about the Zapotec center of Monte Albán and Oaxaca tours.