Lost Mayan City Discovered in Mexico Jungle Using Lidar Technology

In an astonishing turn of events, researchers have identified a colossal Mayan city hidden beneath the dense jungle canopy in the Campeche region of Mexico. The city, named Valeriana, is believed to encompass features such as pyramids, sports fields, and extensive causeways connecting various districts, marking a significant find in the study of Mayan civilization. This hidden complex, comparable in size to Edinburgh, was uncovered through Lidar technology—an advanced radar survey method that can penetrate thick vegetation to reveal ancient structures underneath.Luke Auld-Thomas, a PhD student from Tulane University, stumbled upon this remarkable discovery while scouring online radar survey data. The breakthrough came as Auld-Thomas processed the data with archaeological techniques, revealing a city that likely supported a bustling population of 30,000 to 50,000 at its zenith, a figure surpassing the local population today.Named after a nearby lagoon, Valeriana challenges the long-held narrative in Western thought that equated the tropics with the decline of civilizations. Professor Marcello Canuto, a co-researcher, emphasizes that this find illustrates the existence of rich and intricate cultures in the region. Although the causes for the city's eventual decline remain uncertain, evidence suggests climate change played a pivotal role.Valeriana boasts architectural density second only to Calakmul, the prominent Mayan site located nearby. Despite its proximity to modern settlements, the ruins remained hidden, and the researchers admit they have yet to photograph the site, a testament to its pristine state. Local inhabitants may have speculated about the existence of ruins beneath the earth, but the structures are untouched and unvisited until now.The archaeological survey confirmed an expansive area of roughly 16.6 square kilometers, containing two major centers approximately 2 kilometers apart. These centers featured plazas with temple pyramids where ancient Mayans commemorated their deities, alongside courts for ball games and potential reservoirs indicating sophisticated water management to sustain the city’s population.In total, Auld-Thomas and his team identified 6,764 buildings across three distinct jungle sites. This reinforces the notion that the Maya were adept at establishing complex urban centers as opposed to isolated settlements. The research aligns with assertions that the collapse of Mayan civilization after 800 AD was exacerbated by overpopulation and environmental stress, culminating in failed resource management amid climactic changes and the subsequent conquests by Spanish forces in the 16th century.The advent of Lidar technology has significantly transformed archaeological methodologies by enabling the mapping of landscapes that were previously deemed unapproachable due to dense foliage. Canuto highlights that over the past decade, Lidar surveys have revealed approximately ten times the area previously explored by traditional excavation methods throughout a century. Given the surge in potential sites, Auld-Thomas expresses the urgency to explore Valeriana, noting the unforeseen challenge of adequately studying the multitude of newly discovered Mayan urban landscapes.The findings are documented in the academic journal, Antiquity, opening the door for further exploration and study of ancient civilizations hidden within the jungles of Mexico.