Archaeologists in Oaxaca have mapped a massive subterranean water system that significantly differs from traditional Mesoamerican engineering. The Zapotec complex features a central multi-tiered shaft and cooling galleries that mirror the geometric logic of Indian Vavs (step-wells).
While traditional theories attribute this to independent invention, some researchers are investigating the possibility of early Trans-Pacific cultural exchange. The cooling properties of the stone-cut galleries provided an effective refuge from the heat, much like the subterranean temples of Gujarat and Rajasthan.