Beneath the Vatican of the Zapotecs The ancient ruins of Mitla, located in southern Mexico, were built by the Zapotecs around 200 A.D. and served as a gateway between the living and the dead. The site includes royal houses, ceremonial centers, and a Spanish church with Zapotec courtyards. Spanish chroniclers referred to Mitla as the Vatican of the Zapotec religion, with underground catacombs believed to lead to a netherworld. Recent exploration efforts have used advanced technology to uncover hidden spaces and buried objects beneath the ruins, shedding light on the Zapotec's long-abandoned catacombs. The research team's findings suggest the presence of a large void under the church, potentially leading to the lost subterranean chambers described in historical records. Despite opposition from the church committee, the team aims to continue their noninvasive exploration to uncover the secrets lying beneath the ancient site.