The Zapotec Archaeological Site at Mitla

While only regarded as the second most significant archaeological site in Oaxaca after the Monte Alban, Mitla is nonetheless regarded as the most important Zapotec cultural site on account of the evidence it provides of aesthetic, scientific and political sophistication.

There are five specific sub-sites, or "groups", in Mitla. To date the most archaeological work has been done at the group of "the columns". In keeping with their practices of destroying and building (churches) over the top of indigenous sites and structures, the early Spanish colonists sacked the sites portrayed here, using many materials to create their own cultural edifices.

We took a leisurely tour of the columns, and recorded as much as we could.