Located in the Tlacolula Valley, in the Central Valleys of Oaxaca, the prehistoric caves of Yagul and Mitla are part of an exceptional cultural landscape that has preserved unique evidence of the origins of agriculture in the Americas. These spaces house vestiges of human occupation dating back more than 12,000 years, including cave paintings, stone tools, and remains of domesticated plants such as squash and corn.
The Guilá Naquitz Cave, one of the main rock shelters at the site, was where squash seeds more than 10,000 years old were found, considered the oldest on the continent. These findings mark the transition from foraging societies to sedentary agricultural communities, a turning point in the history of Mesoamerican civilizations.
Yagul and Mitla World Heritage Sites
On August 1, 2010, UNESCO officially recognized the prehistoric caves of Yagul and Mitla as World Heritage Sites, highlighting their key role in plant domestication in North America. This inscription not only guarantees their international protection but also commits local authorities and communities to preserving this ancient legacy as a common good for future generations.
This declaration underscores the symbiotic relationship between humans and their environment, visible in a landscape where natural and cultural history intertwine. Geological formations, archaeological evidence, and the living traditions of the surrounding communities comprise an unprecedented biocultural heritage.
What findings have archaeological research yielded in the area?
Since 1986, the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) has carried out an ambitious study and conservation project in the region. To date, more than one hundred archaeological sites, including caves, rock shelters, and camps, have been documented with evidence of human occupation.
Research has identified a wide variety of materials, including petroglyphs, rock art, food remains, and stone tools. These findings support the hypothesis that Yagul and Mitla were key centers for the process of sedentarization and plant domestication in Mesoamerica.
What is the role of communities in preserving the site?
The conservation of this heritage would not be possible without the active participation of the communities of the Tlacolula Valley. Localities such as San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Tlacolula de Matamoros, Unión Zapata, and San Marcos Tlapazola, among others, have been directly involved in management projects, heritage education, and cultural promotion.
Leobardo Daniel Pacheco Arias and Uriel Sánchez Sosa, site managers, emphasize that shared responsibility between government, civil society, and indigenous communities is key to achieving sustainable development that respects both historical memory and the biodiversity of the environment.
What do Yagul and Mitla symbolize today?
Beyond their scientific and archaeological value, the Yagul and Mitla Caves are a living reminder of the origins of civilization in this part of the continent. They represent a space where the past and present converse through the Zapotec language, traditional medicine, art, and collective memory.
At this site, we can see how humankind has learned to inhabit, care for, and transform their environment without disrupting its natural balance. The Yagul and Mitla Caves not only narrate our origins: they also call us to build a future that is more conscious and connected to the earth.
Source: oaxaca.eluniversal
