How the ancient Zapotecs lived and other secrets of the "cloud people" discovered by archaeologists at the top of a mountain in Mexico

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

The history of the South American continent is dominated by tales of the Incas and Spanish conquistadors. But this region has a much more ancient and almost forgotten past - a civilization as significant and impressive as it is mysterious. These are the Zapotecs, the "cloud people". Who they were and where they disappeared is still the biggest unsolved mystery in South America. Archaeologists recently discovered the ruins of the Cloud People's ceremonial buildings. What secrets have the remains of these ancient structures revealed to scientists?

Evidence of the existence of this mysterious ancient civilization known as the "cloud people" was found at the top of a mountain in Mexico. Walking along the rocky path on the Cerro de Peña mountain, stunned residents of one of the surrounding villages noticed two stone slabs with carvings - at an altitude of almost two thousand meters!

Experts believe that these pre-Hispanic ruins in the Puebla region have been intact since the 6th century, and researchers have determined that the artifacts are products of the Zapotec civilization. They lived in the southern highlands between 700 BC. - 1521 AD So they lived so high in the mountains, they began to be called "People of the Cloud." The discovered monuments and some smaller stones are about 1500 years old. Some sources claim that the stones are perhaps a thousand years older.

The people of Santa Cruz Huehuepiakstla were delighted to discover such valuable historical treasures in the area. This area is full of hidden secrets of the ancient heritage of powerful bygone civilizations. Found stone panels contain images of both animals and people. One of the images shows a human figure with horns and claws in a loincloth. Some steles depict an iguana, an eagle, and a female figure believed to be a deity. The symbols on the stone panels are being carefully researched at this time.

There were at least seven pyramids on the site of the settlement. José Alfredo Arellanes of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) says it was also a ceremonial area surrounded by temples and rulers' houses. The top of the mountain is a place dedicated to the god of the underworld.

This is not all. Evidence has been found of a sports field, probably used for a game called the pelota. This ancient game is similar to modern basketball, in which you had to throw the ball into the ring, only the players used their hips to do this, not their arms.

The Zapotecs really worked well, rested and enjoyed themselves well. Originally from the Oaxaca Valley, they thrived on a combination of polytheistic religion and practical know-how. By the end of the pre-classical period, Cloud People's cities showed very high levels of development in architecture, art, writing, and engineering projects such as irrigation systems. They also developed their own writing system.

The name "Zapoteki" comes from Mother Nature herself. They are literally "people from the place of Zapote." The first phase of the development of this civilization, the period between 500 and 200 BC, was marked by the construction of Monte Alban. This is now a ruined large city where cloud people lived.

Over time, the Zapotec people split into three ethnic groups: the Zapotecs of the valley, the northern Zapotecs, and the southern Zapotecs. They fought among themselves for dominance in the region. The most influential were the Zapotecs of the valley. Making cruel raids on each other, burning temples and villages, sacrificing captive tribesmen - this civilization destroyed itself. Even the fierce Aztecs, who repeatedly attempted to conquer the territories of the cloud people, could not resist them. The remains of the scattered tribes were destroyed by diseases that the Spanish conquistadors brought with them. Many people went further into the mountains.

The descendants of the Zapotecs today are Catholics, although their ancient religion simply merged with Catholic practices. Cloud people believed in the existence of many gods. Many of them personified the connection with agriculture and animals.

The recent discovery of archaeologists opened up new opportunities for study and research, giving a more complete picture of what life was like for a proud people, whose heads were in the clouds, but whose feet stood firm on this earth …

To find out the secrets of other peoples of Mesoamerica, read our article what secrets were discovered by the ruins of an Aztec palace, found during the renovation of a building in Mexico City.