'Backdoor to hell': Beneath a Mexican church, high-end radars confirm a local lore
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Ancient Discovery
Archaeologists uncover tunnels beneath a Mexican church, believed to be the "entrance to the underworld" by the ancient Zapotec civilization.
Mitla’s Secrets
Named the "place of the dead," Mitla once housed Zapotec royalty, worshipping death god Pitao Bezelao, but was transformed under Spanish rule in the 16th century.
Underworld Entry
Historical accounts describe vast caverns as the "back door of hell." Sealed for centuries, recent scans finally reveal tunnels matching these descriptions.
Zapotec Burial
Zapotec kings may rest below, with priests buried alongside. The 1674 text describes royals clad in jewels, carrying traditional war shields and javelins.
Scanning Technology
Ground-penetrating radar, electric resistivity, and seismic tomography expose tunnels extending up to 30 meters beneath Mitla’s ruins.
Credit: Marco M. Vigato, ARX Project
Hidden Chambers
Initial scans reveal five ruins clusters: church, arroyo, adobe, south group, and columns, suggesting extensive interconnected pathways.
Sacred Purpose
Mitla's main temple was deliberately built over by a church, symbolizing the shift from Zapotec spirituality to Spanish faith.
Mystery Continues
Researchers hope to confirm tunnel origins and contents; they speculate Zapotecs or earlier cultures modified natural caves.
Significant Findings
ARX Project scans signal potential artifacts of archaeological importance, hinting at Mitla’s rich, yet hidden, cultural treasures.