Archaeologists in Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico, have discovered a complex network of tunnels and chambers beneath the 16th-century Church of San Pablo Apostol, which local legend deems the “entrance to the underworld.”
These structures, believed to connect with the Zapotec god of death, Pitao Bezelao, were uncovered through advanced radar techniques. The Zapotec city of Mitla, known as the "place of the dead," was long thought to conceal subterranean passages associated with ancient rituals, but no definitive proof had been found until now.
These newly mapped underground passages extend to depths of over 30 meters. According to archaeologist Marco Vigato, the church, erected by Spanish conquistadors atop a significant Zapotec temple, symbolised religious conquest by integrating stone from Zapotec ruins into its foundation.
Excavations revealed what historical texts described as a gruesome room where the remains of fallen enemies of Zapotec kings were interred, along with the kings themselves, adorned with precious metals and symbols of battle.
The tunnels’ age remains uncertain, and their historical value is still under study. This discovery adds to recent archaeological revelations in Mexico, including the accidental discovery of a hidden ancient city in the Yucatán peninsula, underscoring the region’s rich and layered history.
Source:
The Metro
