Prehistorické jaskyne Yagul a Mitla v Centrálnom údolí Oaxacy, Archaeological cave complex in Central Valley, Mexico.
The Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla comprise over 60 natural caverns and rock shelters scattered across the northern slopes of Oaxaca Valley. The site features painted walls, carved rock surfaces, and interconnected chambers that were home to some of the region's earliest inhabitants.
These caves hold evidence of the earliest plant cultivation attempts in North and Central America, dating back approximately 10,000 years. The archaeological finds document how people began to domesticate wild plants and fundamentally changed their way of living.
The painted walls show images of daily life from the region's earliest inhabitants, reflecting their transition from hunting to farming. These rock markings reveal how people slowly changed their way of living over many generations.
Comfortable hiking shoes are essential since paths between the caves cross uneven terrain and some chambers are reached via steep inclines. Visits are possible year-round, though the drier months offer more comfortable walking conditions.
One chamber contains the oldest documented corn cob fragments found in the Americas, showing how people cultivated early forms of this important crop. These discoveries reveal that corn domestication took longer and happened more gradually than previously believed.
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