Discovering an ancient Mayan city – what do the rainforests hide?

Archaeologists from Tulane University have found the remains of a massive Mayan city in the dense Mexican jungle. This discovery was made possible thanks to modern laser technology, which made a city of about 16 square kilometers with ancient buildings and pyramids visible. About 50,000 people are said to live there. These findings raise the question: How many undiscovered cities could still be hiding under the dense canopy? What do they tell us about the complex social structures of the Maya?

Lidar technology reveals hidden Mayan treasures

The latest discovery was made using lidar, a laser technology that creates detailed 3D models of surfaces, revealing structures hidden from the human eye. The research team at Tulane University, led by Marcelo A. Canuto and Luke Old Thomas used lidar technology to survey a 50-square-mile area in Campeche, Mexico.

This area had previously been largely ignored by archaeologists, but laser scans have revealed more than 6,500 buildings from the pre-Hispanic era – including a giant city.

Marcelo Canuto describes the effects of lidar on archaeology: “Lidar teaches us that the Lowland Maya, like many other ancient civilizations, built a diverse network of cities and communities across their tropical landscape.”

A huge city with a population of 50 thousand people

Adjacent to the region's only highway, the excavated city offers an insight into Mayan life and architecture. Numerous archaeological buildings and pyramids demonstrate the central importance of this area in the Maya Empire. This large city, which researchers called “Valeriana,” had an extensive infrastructure. Researchers estimate that up to 50,000 people live in this urban complex, which is equipped with squares, temples, a ball field and an irrigation system.