by Allan Wall
The Zapotec people have lived in the Mexican state of Oaxaca (wa-ha-ca) for 2500 years, and still live there.
Two thousand years ago, the Zapotec culture was at its height, as far as material accomplishments go. But the culture has remained to this day.
For tourists the most famous Zapotec archaeological sites are Monte Alban and Mitla.
Recently, a Zapotec tomb has been discovered in the state of Oaxaca, 31-35 kilometers from the state capital, Oaxaca City.
This tomb had been sealed for 1400 years, since about 600 A.D.
Tomb #10 is carved into the Cerro de la Cantera (Hill of the Quarry) at San Pablo Huitzo, at the northern end of the Etla Valley.
In Zapotec the area is called Huijazoo, “Watchtower of War” or “War Fortress”. It was on the Zapotec border with their enemies, the Mixtecs. It is believed that the Huijazoo lordship reached its peak from 650 A.D.-700 A.D.
The Tomb #10 discovery was announced by the Mexican government on January 23rd, 2026. In late 2025 there was a report of illegal excavations on the hill, so the Mexican government quickly moved in to properly excavate.
The government bureau carrying out the dig was INAH, an acronym for Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia which “investigates, conserves and disseminates the archaeological, anthropological, historic and paleontological inheritance of the nation…” (from the INAH website). It’s part of the Secretariat of Culture. (See President Sheinbaum’s Cabinet).
The Tomb #10 excavation was run by Jorge Bautista Hernández and Gabriela Galicia Moreno. The team found a shaft that had been sealed for 1400 years.
Tomb #10 is planned to be open for school field trips by the end of 2026.
The tomb dates back to about 600 A.D. It’s not known who was buried in the tomb, but presumably some ruler.
The tomb is 5.55 meters long, 1.66-2.79 meters wide, and 1.68-2.60 meters high. It’s made of limestone, cantera stone and lime stucco.
According to an article on the MAHC website , “Tomb 10 is an architectural marvel of the Late Classic Zapotec style. It is defined as a “stepped-vault” (bóveda escalonada) chamber, a complex engineering feat that utilized large limestone slabs and finely cut gray cantera stone to support the weight of the hillside above. This style is characteristic of elite Zapotec funerary architecture found at major sites like Monte Albán and Mitla, but its execution in Huitzo is particularly refined.”
The tomb has two rooms: the primary burial chamber and the antechamber in front of the primary chamber.
At the entrance to the antechamber, above the door, is the sculpture of an owl. From MAHC: “The most distinctive feature of the tomb’s facade is a monumental sculpture of an owl (búho or tecolote) positioned above the entrance to the antechamber. In the Zapotec worldview, the owl was a multifaceted symbol representing the night, death, and the transition into the underworld. However, the Huitzo owl carries a unique iconographic detail: its beak is depicted covering the stuccoed and painted face of a male figure. Archaeologists believe this male face represents a “Señor Zapoteca,” a deified ancestor or the specific lord for whom the tomb was built. The owl acts as a spiritual intermediary or a psychopomp, bridging the gap between the divine forces and the human lineage. This imagery reinforces the concept of ancestor veneration, a core tenet of Zapotec religion where the deceased continued to play an active role in the lives of their descendants.”
What about the actual human remains in the tomb? MAHC explains: “While the architecture and art provide a symbolic framework, the physical remains found within the tomb offer a direct link to the ancient population. Initial investigations recovered several bone fragments, which are currently being analyzed by specialists in physical anthropology. These studies aim to determine the age, sex, and health status of the individuals interred, as well as their genetic relationship to the Monte Albán elite.”
by Allan Wall for Mexico News Report
Source: Mexico News Report
