1. Many Zapotec pottery vessels, however, have long been suspected of being forgeries.

2. The Zapotec civilisation of Oaxaca undoubtedly had writing.

3. Local people are mostly Zapotec. Their skin was darker.

4. The Zapotec were pioneers in the use of agriculture and writing systems.

5. Experts believe Zapotec nobles dressed up as the god to try and ensure a good harvest.

6. But the Zapotec also played a vital role in ancient Mesoamerica.

7. Scholarshave been able to work out the Zapotec calendar and show it to be aprecursor of the Mayan one.

8. Obsidian, a form of volcanic rock valued for its strength and durability, was an important resource for ancient Mesoamerican cultures including the Zapotec and Maya.

9. The region has a number of undeciphered ancient scripts. Three haveattracted particular interest: Olmec, Zapotec and Isthmian.