An ancient underground labyrinth has been found in Mexico

Archaeologists have found a mythical “gate to the underworld” in the pre-Columbian ruins of Mitla in Oaxaca, Mexico. Legends of a complex labyrinth of tunnels, believed to lead to the entrance of the “Land of the Dead”, outlived Mitla itself.

Mitla was the most important site of the ancient Zapotec culture, and was built as a gateway between the world of the living and the world of the dead, reflecting the Mesoamerican belief that death was the most important part of life after birth.

The ancient Zapotec people settled in Oaxaca Valley before the turn of the first millennium, and around 1000 CE the Mixtec people also migrated into the area. When the Spanish arrived in the 16th century, Mitla was home to a rich culture including a writing system, two calendar systems and sophisticated farming and construction techniques.

In 1553, Oaxacan Archbishop Albuquerque ordered the destruction of the Mitla site due to its political and religious significance for the Zapotec people. Spanish-led forces sacked the site, displacing the Zapotec, and the ruins of Mitla were used as materials for building Spanish churches. Today, it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Oaxaca. 

Ancient rumours of a gate to the Zapotec underworld, known as Lyobaa, sealed hundreds of years ago by frightened Spanish missionaries, persisted. These legends spurred Mexican archaeologists to launch an exploration of Mitla in 2022, using non-invasive geophysical survey tools to see what secrets lay hidden beneath the site’s surface. 

A report released by the team of archaeologists confirmed the existence of an underground labyrinth beneath the ruins of a Catholic Church at the site. Chambers and tunnels were identified, with passages between 16 and 26 feet underground.

The team has planned further investigations to find out more. Hopefully they don’t accidentally open the gate to the land of the dead!