Dense tropical rainforests hide the past very effectively. Trees sprout over roads, roots break down walls, leaves cover platforms with debris, and landscapes gradually vanish under a dense green foliage. Seen from the surface, what appeared to be a human-made urban layout merges seamlessly with pristine wilderness. Hence, archeologists have turned to airborne laser mapping called LiDAR that reveals what cannot be seen otherwise. Lasers penetrate the gaps in the greenery of tropical rainforests and allow for reconstructing the topography of the landscape below.
Suddenly, one sees clearly the road networks, terraces, causeways, platforms, and geometrically arranged settlements previously invisible during foot surveys due to dense foliage or difficult access. It is not uncommon for this technique to create an instantaneous revelation as the transformation happens within seconds on a computer screen. An uninterrupted expanse of forest gives way to a well-defined network of lines, elevated structures, and human settlements that were obscured by jungle foliage for centuries.
