Under a bent of church service structures in Mexico , archaeologists have uncovered evidence of an surreptitious labyrinth that they suspect was once believed to be an entrance to the Scheol .
The discovery was made at the archeological internet site of Mitla near the metropolis of Oaxaca by a team from the Mexican National Institute of History and Anthropology ( INAH ) , the National Autonomous University of Mexico ( UNAM ) , the Association for Archaeological Research and Exploration , and the ARX Project .
Mitla is believe to be the most important diachronic website for the endemic multitude of the Zapotec acculturation whosecivilizationthrived in the Valley of Oaxaca from 700 BCE until the Spanish conquest in 1521 CE .
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Seismic tomography scan of the Church Group revealing areas of low velocity (in blue) that could indicate the presence of underground chambers or natural cavities.Image courtesy of ARX Project
The site of Mitla likely grow in the Classic period ( roughly 250–900 atomic number 58 ) but grew to its greatest size and significance afterwards during the Post - Classic menstruation . Around the former sixteenth century CE , after the Spanish hadwelcomed themselvesto the Americas , a Catholic church and other social organization were plump down on top of the site .
Using three different types of geophysical scanning , the squad of archaeologists revealed a subterranean complex of tunnel that exist beneath the lot of structures know as the Church Group . Along with a series of passageways , the CAT scan detected a significant void , some 5 to 8 meters ( 16 to 26 animal foot ) beneath the ground , hint the comportment of a large chamber .
Both local tradition and text file from the colonial era indicate that Mitla was considered by the ancient Zapotecs to be an entrance to the underworld , or Lyobaa , suggest these tunnels were believe to be a gateway to the land of the dead .
Although it ’s still uncertain , it look that the sealed entrance to this coordination compound may consist through the principal communion table of the church service .
“ In 1674 , the Dominican don Francisco de Burgoa trace the exploration of the ruination of Mitla and their subterranean chambers by a chemical group of Spanish missioner . Burgoa ’s account utter of a vast subterranean temple consisting of four interconnected chambers , stop the tombs of the high-pitched non-Christian priest and the Billie Jean Moffitt King of Teozapotlán , ” the ARX Project say in anannouncement of the findingsin May 2023 .
“ From the last subterranean chamber , a stone door lead into a deep cavern extending thirty leagues below ground . This cavern was cross by other passage like streets , its roof supported by mainstay . allot to Burgoa , the missionary had all entry to this underground labyrinth sealed , entrust only the palaces standing above ground , ” it added .
This is just the first geophysical study of the site . The researchers are prepare to return to the location in September 2023 for another round of sketch , hoping to reveal more hidden layer of its long - lost yesteryear .
Stay tuned for more journey into the bowels of theunderworld !
