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 Palace at Mitla | |
  Shown within Mexico | |
| Location | Oaxaca, Mexico |
|---|---|
| Region | Oaxaca Valley |
| Coordinates | 16°55′38″N 96°21′34″W / 16.92722°N 96.35944°W |
| Official name | Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii |
| Designated | 2010 (34th session) |
| Reference no. | 1352 |
| Region | Latin America and the Caribbean |
Mitla is the second-most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, and the most important of the Zapotec culture.[1][2] The site is located 44 km from the city of Oaxaca,[3] in the upper end of the Tlacolula Valley, one of the three cold, high valleys that form the Central Valleys Region of the state.[4] At an elevation of 4,855 ft (1,480 m), surrounded by the mountains of the Sierra Madre del Sur,[5] the archeological site is within the modern municipality of San Pablo Villa de Mitla.[6] It is 24 mi (38 km) southeast of Oaxaca city. While Monte Albán was the most important politically of the Zapotec centers, Mitla became the main religious one in a later period as the area became dominated by the Mixtec.[4]
The name Mitla is derived from the Nahuatl name Mictlán, meaning the "place of the dead" or "underworld." Its Zapotec name is Lyobaa, which means “place of rest”.[2] The name Mictlán was transliterated to Mitla. [7] It was established as a sacred burial site by the Zapotec, but the architecture and designs also show the influence of the Mixtec, who had become prominent in the area during the peak of Mitla settlement.
Mitla is unique among Mesoamerican sites because of its elaborate and intricate mosaic fretwork and geometric designs that cover tombs, panels, friezes, and even entire walls of the complex. These mosaics are made with small, finely cut and polished stone pieces that have been fitted together without the use of mortar. No other site in Mexico has this decorative work.[7][8][9]
- ^ "Conservan Mitla" [Conserving Mitla] (in Spanish). Mexico: INAH. 2009-09-09. Retrieved 2009-12-10.[permanent dead link]
- ^ a b Association for Archaeological Research and Exploration, [https://www.arxproject.org/lyobaa Project Lyobaa - Results from the first 2022 Season ], The ARX Project, May 12, 2023 - with many images
- ^ "Zona Arquelógica de Mitla" [Mitla Archeological Zone] (in Spanish). Oaxaca: Oaxaca Mio. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
- ^ a b Stevens, Al (2003-11-01). "The Grecas of Mitla". Our Mexico. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
- ^ "Mitla archaeological site, Mexico". Encyclopedia Britannica. britannica.com. n.d. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
- ^ Zap, Tom. "Mitla, Oaxaca". Oaxaca. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
- ^ a b "Mitla (Lugar de Muertos)" [Mitla Archeological Zone] (in Spanish). Oaxaca: Oaxaca Mio. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
- ^ "Intensifican acciones para conservar antigua ciudad zapoteca de Mitla" [Intensify actions to preserve the ancient Zapotec city of Mitla]. Milenio (in Spanish). Mexico City. Notimex. 2009-09-09. Archived from the original on 2009-09-14. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
- ^ "Cronología de México Oaxaca Artes e Historía Mexico" [Chronology of Mexico-Oaxaca Arts and History Mexico] (in Spanish). Mexico: INAH. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
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