MITLA, OAXACA, MEXICO
MITLA, OAXACA, MEXICO
Do yourself a favour before it’s too late, without thinking too much about it first, pack a pillow and a blanket and see as much of the world as you can. You will not regret it. One day it will be too late. Jhumpa Lahiri
According to Wikipedia, Mitla is the second most important archeological site in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico and the most important of the Zapotec culture. Mitla was the main religious center.
This area was settled by the Zapotecs who over the centuries developed a hierarchical society governed by kings and nobles. By the time the Spanish arrived in the 1520s, the Zapotec state had a population of over 500,000, sophisticated construction techniques, a writing system, two calendar systems and agriculture that included the growing of maize, beans, squash and chili peppers, using irrigation and terraces in the mountains to grow food.
What makes Mitla unique among Mesoamerican sites is the elaborate and intricate mosaic fretwork and geometric designs that cover tombs, panels, friezes and even entire walls. 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.
| No mortar was used to place these mosaics |
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