Archaeologists have made a significant discovery in southern Mexico using laser-sensing technology. The findings suggest the presence of an ancient Mayan city hidden beneath the jungle. Referred to as Valeriana, the lost city is believed to have been as densely populated as the well-known pre-Hispanic metropolis of Calakmul in the Yucatan peninsula.
The study, recently published in the journal Antiquity, indicates that the region between known Maya sites may have been heavily populated in ancient times. The research reveals that a lesser-known area was once an urbanized landscape, shedding light on the ancient inhabitants' activities.
The National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico reported the detection of approximately 6,479 structures in LiDAR images covering an area of 47 square miles. The technology, which uses laser pulses to map landscapes from a plane, unveiled various structures such as temple platforms, ceremonial ball courts, housing platforms, agricultural terraces, and a potential dam. These structures are estimated to date back to between 250 and 900 A.D., with the settlement possibly originating a century earlier.
The discovery was made by a consortium of researchers who re-examined a 2013 LiDAR survey initially conducted to monitor deforestation. The extensive data collected will enhance the understanding of ancient Mayan civilization, combining existing knowledge of political and religious histories with new insights into societal structures and activities.
While LiDAR is a valuable tool for archaeological research, some features identified in the survey may require on-site confirmation by researchers. It is essential to consider the contemporaneity of the mapped features, as LiDAR data provides information on surface structures but not their historical use.
This groundbreaking discovery opens up new possibilities for studying the ancient Mayan people and their way of life, offering a glimpse into the rich history of this civilization.
