Mitla Ruin Site Oaxaca, Mexico, Mosaic Designs
Mitla: Oaxaca Ruin Sites
Mitla Ruin Site, Oaxaca, South Central Mexico
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Mitla Ruin Site (City of the Dead)
Mitla is Located at 16-55' N and
96-24' W in the State of Oaxaca
on
Route 190, the highway from
Oaxaca City to the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec. The ruin site is
about 25 miles from Oaxaca
City.
96-24' W in the State of Oaxaca
on
Route 190, the highway from
Oaxaca City to the Isthmus of
Tehuantepec. The ruin site is
about 25 miles from Oaxaca
City.
Mitla was first built by the Zapotec
culture in 200-500 AD and then
influenced in later building stages
by the Mixtec culture from the
northern mountains who had
entered the region in 900 AD after
the decline of Monte Alban.
culture in 200-500 AD and then
influenced in later building stages
by the Mixtec culture from the
northern mountains who had
entered the region in 900 AD after
the decline of Monte Alban.
Mitla is surrounded by area caves
that had been occupied since
pre-ceramic times and are
continually used today by the local
people for religious ceremonies
and healing rituals.
that had been occupied since
pre-ceramic times and are
continually used today by the local
people for religious ceremonies
and healing rituals.
Mitla ruin Site is a fee area: 34 pesos.
($3. USD)
($3. USD)
Mitla Ruin is done in a unique architectural
style with complex mosaic designs
throughout the site. Two tomb chambers are
open to the public
style with complex mosaic designs
throughout the site. Two tomb chambers are
open to the public
The city was first built by
the Zapotec culture in 500
AD and then influenced in
later building stages by
the Mixtec culture from the
northern mountains who
had entered the region in
900 AD after the decline
of Monte Alban. The site
was in use when the
spanish arrived.
the Zapotec culture in 500
AD and then influenced in
later building stages by
the Mixtec culture from the
northern mountains who
had entered the region in
900 AD after the decline
of Monte Alban. The site
was in use when the
spanish arrived.
These same designs to a lesser extent can be found on buildings at the weaving village of
Teotitlan del Valle and at the ruin site of Yagul a few miles to the north.
Teotitlan del Valle and at the ruin site of Yagul a few miles to the north.
Mitla's cruciform tomb chambers are open to the public. The several chambered tombs have
linings done in similar post-classic mosaic designs and patterns that are found on building
facades throughout the site.
linings done in similar post-classic mosaic designs and patterns that are found on building
facades throughout the site.
Mitla Ruin Site buildings are accessible
daily unless repair work is underway
daily unless repair work is underway
The Spanish
colonizers built
their church on
top of the
existing Zapotec
temple
colonizers built
their church on
top of the
existing Zapotec
temple
Mitla's mosaic patterns have been incorporated by the local weavers into their rug designs.
These designs are considered post-classic for the Oaxacan Valley, their stepped fret patterns
done with cut stone and with such intensity as to be unique in Mesoamerica.
These designs are considered post-classic for the Oaxacan Valley, their stepped fret patterns
done with cut stone and with such intensity as to be unique in Mesoamerica.
Tomb wall designs
Entrance to the tombs is on the patio below the buildings.
Archaeological evidence suggests that the tombs would have been used many times, each new
burial accompanied by offerings and the existing skeletons and offerings moved to the side for
the new burial.
burial accompanied by offerings and the existing skeletons and offerings moved to the side for
the new burial.
Oaxaca City offers many ruin sites within a few miles of the city. Theses major archaeological
sites with building stages that span 1200 BC to 1519 AD are open to the public and can be reached
by car, taxi, or public bus.
Other Sites
Of this group Monte Alban, Mitla, and San Jose El Mogote have museums and can be reached
easily by public transportation.
Lambyteco can be reached by public bus or taxi/collectivo while Yagul, Dainzu, and Huijazoo can
be harder to reach by public transportation because of remote access roads .
Tours to the ruins are available through agencies, or guides in Oaxaca City or the visitor can self
guide using the well marked trails and explanatory plaques done in the Zapotec language, in
Spanish, and in English.
Oaxaca is a modern city with many fine hotels, some located in colonial buildings in the historic
center of the city.
Gourmet dining, art galleries, theater, and musical concerts are available in Oaxaca's Historic
District. Two museums in the city display artifacts, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center and the
Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-hispanic Art
sites with building stages that span 1200 BC to 1519 AD are open to the public and can be reached
by car, taxi, or public bus.
Other Sites
Of this group Monte Alban, Mitla, and San Jose El Mogote have museums and can be reached
easily by public transportation.
Lambyteco can be reached by public bus or taxi/collectivo while Yagul, Dainzu, and Huijazoo can
be harder to reach by public transportation because of remote access roads .
Tours to the ruins are available through agencies, or guides in Oaxaca City or the visitor can self
guide using the well marked trails and explanatory plaques done in the Zapotec language, in
Spanish, and in English.
Oaxaca is a modern city with many fine hotels, some located in colonial buildings in the historic
center of the city.
Gourmet dining, art galleries, theater, and musical concerts are available in Oaxaca's Historic
District. Two museums in the city display artifacts, the Santo Domingo Cultural Center and the
Rufino Tamayo Museum of Pre-hispanic Art
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Mitla Ruin Site Oaxaca, Mexico displays mosaic designs influenced
the the Mixtec people who had entered the region in 900 AD after the
decline of Monte Alban.Mitla was first built by the Zapotec culture in
200-500 AD and then influenced in later building stages by the
Mixtec culture from the north.
the the Mixtec people who had entered the region in 900 AD after the
decline of Monte Alban.Mitla was first built by the Zapotec culture in
200-500 AD and then influenced in later building stages by the
Mixtec culture from the north.
Mitla Ruin Site Oaxaca, Mexico displays mosaic designs influenced the the Mixtec people
who had entered the region in 900 AD after the decline of Monte Alban.
Mitla was first built by the Zapotec culture in 200-500 AD and then influenced in later building
stages by the Mixtec culture from the north.
who had entered the region in 900 AD after the decline of Monte Alban.
Mitla was first built by the Zapotec culture in 200-500 AD and then influenced in later building
stages by the Mixtec culture from the north.
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