Researchers have discovered a portal to the world of the dead in southern Mexico.
Archaeologists from the National Institute of Anthropology reported on the discovery.
In the city of Mitla, under the foundations of a Catholic church, scientists have found a network of basements that date back to the pre-Columbian era, RIA Novosti reports.
Once upon a time there was an ancient settlement of the Zapotec Indians here.
In 1520, the Spanish arrived here. The colonists built their city here and called it the "Indian Vatican."
Following them, Christianity came to these lands. A Catholic church grew up on the site of the Zapotec religious site.
But even after centuries, traces of the ancient civilization remain. Now scientists are studying the find and revealing preliminary results.
The name of the city Mitla translates as "place of the dead". The Indians believed that it was here that the portal to another world was located.
That's why they built a sanctuary here, which looks like a tunnel. The object goes into the ground to a depth of 30 meters.
But scientists have not yet fully explored it. It is possible that we are talking about a multi-tiered sanctuary that goes down even deeper.
It is believed that here the Indians performed rituals to communicate with the spirits of the dead and made sacrifices to the gods. The Zapotecs killed their tribesmen and enemies by tearing out their hearts.
They believed that this way they would be able to appease the gods and protect themselves from hunger, natural disasters, and diseases.
