Final answer:
The danzantes are stone sculptures of stripped men found at the Monte Alban archaeological site in Oaxaca, Mexico, which used to be interpreted as dancers but are now regarded as depictions of captured warriors who were possibly sacrificed by the Zapotec civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The danzantes (dancers) refer to a series of stone sculptures discovered at the archaeological site of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico. These life-sized carvings depict stripped men in contorted poses and are believed to represent captured warriors who were sacrificed in ritual ceremonies during the Zapotec civilization. The term danzantes comes from the Spanish word for dancers, as their arranged poses were initially thought to be dance moves. However, upon further study, it has been suggested that they represent tortured or sacrificed individuals rather than dancers. The danzantes were found as part of the excavations of one of the earliest Mesoamerican cities, providing important insights into the Zapotec culture and its practices of ritual sacrifice.
Significantly, these sculptures have unique physical characteristics and inscriptions that may have indicated the name or rank of the person depicted. The presence of the danzantes highlights Monte Alban's role as a dominant cultural, political, and economic center in pre-Columbian times. This discovery also adds valuable information regarding the artistic and cultural development of early Mesoamerican societies. The Monte Alban site, including the danzantes, has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987, emphasizing its historical significance.