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]
^ abAssociation 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.
^ abStevens, Al (2003-11-01). "The Grecas of Mitla". Our Mexico. Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
^Zap, Tom. "Mitla, Oaxaca". Oaxaca. Retrieved December 10, 2009.
^ ab"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.
Mitla is the second-most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico, and the most important of the Zapotec culture. The site is located...
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Israeli soldiers were killed during the battle at Mitla. Due to these deaths, Sharon's actions at Mitla were surrounded in controversy, with many within...
geographical variant. In Juchitán (Isthmus) it is Diidxazá [didʒaˈza], in Mitla it is Didxsaj [didʒˈsaʰ], in Zoogocho it is Diža'xon [diʒaʔˈʐon], in Coatec...
Exist Without San Bernardino's Mitla Cafe". Eater LA. Morehouse, Lisa. "So much more than tacos: San Bernardino's Mitla Cafe". www.kalw.org. "Newsletter:...
one of the other urban centers of the Zapotecs in the sub-valley area of Mitla. As a polytheistic religion, the Zapotecs attributed several elements of...
archaeological sites are found in the Oaxaca Valley, including Monte Albán, Mitla, San José Mogote and Yagul. Today, the capital of the state, the city of...
with the exclusion of the northern areas which became the Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District. Saddam Hussein's relative, Ali Hassan al-Majid, became the governor...
civilization, are three broad valleys—Etla in the west, Ocotlán in the south and Mitla in the east—that join at an altitude of about 4500 feet above sea level...
collection includes all of Uris's novels, with the exception of The Haj and Mitla Pass, as well as manuscripts for the screenplay, Gunfight at the O.K. Corral...
overruled by General Ismail and Sadat, whose aims were to seize the strategic Mitla and Gidi Passes and the Israeli nerve centre at Refidim, which they hoped...
with people attracted for its archeological sites such as Monte Albán, and Mitla, and its various native cultures and crafts. Another important tourist area...
in which Kuwaiti sovereign territory was split, with the "Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District" being carved out of the country's northern portion and the "Kuwait...
Kadesh, Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis, dropping paratroopers at the Mitla Pass. On June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six-Day War, the Israeli Air...
Bell watched long lines of customers at a Mexican restaurant called the Mitla Cafe, located across the street, which became famous among residents for...
entire country on 28 August 1990; northern Kuwait became the Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District and was merged into the existing Basra Governorate, while southern...
construction phases of sites in the Yucatán region like Chichén Itzá and Uxmal. Mitla, with Mixtec influence, became the more important site of the Zapotec, overshadowing...
Governorate, Iraq's 19th province (southern part), and the Saddamiyat al-Mitla' District of Basra Governorate (northern part), and thus it was formally...
inhabitants established themselves in various small centers such as Lambityeco, Mitla and Yagul. Yagul comes from the Zapotec language, it is formed from ya (tree)...
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