Today Monte Albán is an impressive archaeological site, but it started as the grand capital of the Zapotec people and was inhabited for at least 1200 years beginning in 500 BC. The Zapotec were advanced in architecture, engineering, writing and the arts. The Zapotec people are still the largest indigenous group in the state of Oaxaca and continue their endeavors in the arts- including textiles, carved wood alebrije, pottery and more. Each day Zapotec men from Santa María Atzompa make the trek to Monte Albán to sell their handmade clay figure reproductions of Zapotec and Mixtec figures to tourists. Señor Patrocinio learned his craft from his grandfather when he was a boy.