Archaeologists confirmed the existence of a network of underground chambers and tunnels beneath the ancient city of Mitla in Mexico, a site known for its association with the Zapotec.
Archaeologists have confirmed the existence of a network of underground chambers and tunnels beneath the ancient city of Mitla in Mexico, a site known for its association with the Zapotec god of death, Pitao Bezelao. This discovery was made using advanced geophysical methods, including ground-penetrating radar, electrical resistivity tomography, and seismic noise tomography, which revealed a series of chambers and tunnels that likely represent yet unknown Zapotec tombs.
The research group, led by the National Institute of Anthropology and History of Mexico (INAH), probed five different sets of ruins in Mitla: the church group, the arroyo group, the adobe group, the south group, and the group of the columns. Marco Vigato, founder of the ARX Project, revealed the extent of this underground tunnel and chamber system, stating: "Some of the tunnels and chambers extend to a considerable depth, in excess of 15 metres." He added: "In the case of the south group, they're up to 30 metres deep—this is as far as the instruments can penetrate."
One of the most significant findings is a large void beneath the main altar of the Church of San Pablo Apostol in Mitla. Vigato remarked: "It's no coincidence that there was a void beneath the church altar." The Church of San Pablo Apostol was constructed in the 16th century by the Spanish on the remains of the ancient Zapotec civilization's most sacred temple, symbolizing the triumph of the new faith. A significant portion of the ruins were incorporated into the foundations of the church, which was built with stones stripped from the ancient buildings.
The Zapotecs and other Mesoamerican peoples called Mitla "the place of the dead." The Zapotecs believed the caves and the subterranean labyrinth under Mitla to be an entrance to the underworld, or Lyobaa. Vigato explained: "For this reason, Mitla was the centre of the cult of Pitao Bezelao, the Zapotec god of death and the underworld, and was for centuries the cemetery of the Zapotec kings and high priests." This belief led to the town's association with death and the underworld, and according to historical accounts, such as those by the 17th-century Dominican friar Francisco de Burgoa, the site contained "a labyrinth of rooms and tunnels" considered the entrance to the underworld.
Previous excavations failed to find anything matching Burgoa's descriptions, but the recent geophysical surveys have identified underground geophysical anomalies planned to be surveyed in future fieldwork. The team found tunnels that penetrate deep beneath the earth, with some structures measuring approximately 15 metres long by 10 metres wide under the Church of San Pablo Apostol. Vigato noted: "It is possible that the tunnels, particularly those under the church group, extend further to the north, east, and south. Possibly they connect to other geophysical anomalies identified under the other groups."
Archaeologists suggest that this underground system could even be the resting place of the ancient Zapotec kings. Francisco de Burgoa, in his 1674 text 'Geografica Descripción,' said the Zapotec kings are interred "richly dressed in their best attire," with "feathers, jewels, golden necklaces, and precious stones," holding "a shield in the left hand and a javelin in the right, just as they used them in war." He also described two further caverns containing a chapel and a burial chamber for the Zapotec high priests, and a final chamber leading to "a dark and gruesome room" where "they threw the bodies of the victims of the great lords and chieftains who had fallen in battle."
The true extent of the tunnel network is not yet known. Vigato stated: "They may have been created by the Zapotecs, or they could be much older. There is no indication at the moment as to the possible age of the tunnels under the church or the other groups of structures at Mitla." He emphasized that "the findings from the geophysical scans will have to be confirmed with archaeological methods. This could determine the nature of the cavities identified under the site and whether they contain any artifacts of archaeological significance."
Natural caves in the area of Mitla have been occupied and partially modified by humans for thousands of years. According to Vigato, "The earliest evidence of crop domestication in the area of Mitla dates back almost 10,000 years." Despite this long history, experts have not been able to establish how old these underground networks are.
The Zapotec civilization started in Oaxaca around 2,300 years ago and declined in the area around 900 CE, although the reason for this decline remains unknown as there was no trace of violent destruction. The Zapotec people did not disappear completely but established a new center at Mitla in the Oaxaca Valley. The site of Mitla continued to be occupied up until the Spanish conquest in 1519 CE. Today, the Zapotec people are indigenous to Mexico and are still concentrated in Oaxaca, with a population of just under one million. They are largely Catholic, although some ancient beliefs still survive.
The researchers now hope to determine the nature of the cavities identified under the site and whether they contain any artifacts of archaeological significance. Vigato said: "This could determine the nature of the cavities identified under the site and whether they contain any artifacts of archaeological significance."
Sources: The Scottish Sun, The Sun, Mail Online, The US Sun