TL;DR
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A PhD student at Tulane University discovered a previously unknown Maya city in Mexico through lidar data analysis. The find suggests the region was densely populated and culturally rich, challenging previous assumptions about Maya civilization decline.
A PhD student at Tulane University has accidentally discovered a large, previously unknown Maya city in Mexico while analyzing remote sensing data online, highlighting the region’s complex history and challenging long-held assumptions about Maya civilization decline.
Luke Auld-Thomas, a doctoral researcher, identified the site through lidar data, a remote sensing technique that uses laser pulses to map beneath dense jungle canopy. The city, named Valeriana, covers approximately 16.6 square kilometers and likely hosted 30,000 to 50,000 people at its peak around 750 to 850 AD, making it comparable in size to some of the largest known Maya sites.
The discovery was made while Auld-Thomas was browsing online data sources, specifically a lidar survey conducted by a Mexican environmental agency. He processed the data using archaeological methods, revealing the outlines of pyramids, causeways, plazas, and other structures. The site is located just 15 minutes from a major road near Xpujil, in Campeche state, and remains largely unexcavated.
Why It Matters
This discovery challenges the longstanding view that tropical regions like southern Mexico were sparsely populated or uninhabited after the decline of classic Maya civilization. It suggests that these areas supported dense, complex societies until climate change, warfare, and Spanish conquest contributed to their decline. The find underscores the potential for many more undiscovered sites in the region, reshaping our understanding of Maya history and civilization.
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Background
Over the past decade, lidar technology has revolutionized archaeology in Mesoamerica, revealing numerous lost cities hidden beneath jungle cover. Prior discoveries in the region, including Calakmul and others, have shown the Maya built extensive urban networks. The use of lidar has increased the pace of such discoveries, with Auld-Thomas’s find adding to this growing body of evidence that Maya civilization was more widespread and interconnected than previously thought.
Historically, Maya cities have been known from surface remains and limited excavations, but many sites remained hidden due to dense vegetation. Recent lidar surveys have mapped thousands of structures, indicating a highly populated and organized landscape, especially during the Classic period.
“I was on something like page 16 of Google search and found a laser survey done by a Mexican organisation for environmental monitoring. When I processed the data, I saw what others had missed — a huge ancient city.”
— Luke Auld-Thomas
“This find supports the idea that the Tropics was home to rich, complex civilizations, not just wilderness or abandoned sites. It changes how we view Maya urbanism.”
— Professor Marcello Canuto
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What Remains Unclear
It remains unclear what specific functions the structures served or the full extent of the city’s population and activities. No excavations have been conducted yet, so details about daily life, governance, or reasons for abandonment are still unknown. Additionally, it is uncertain how many more undiscovered sites exist in the region.
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What’s Next
Researchers plan to conduct targeted excavations and further surveys at Valeriana to better understand its history and significance. They also aim to use lidar to identify additional sites across the region, which could reshape the map of ancient Maya civilization in Mexico.
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Key Questions
How was the city discovered?
The city was discovered by a PhD student analyzing lidar survey data he found online, revealing structures beneath the jungle canopy that had gone unnoticed.
Why is this discovery important?
It challenges previous assumptions about Maya civilization decline and suggests the region supported large, complex societies until environmental and social factors led to their decline.
What is lidar technology and why is it useful?
Lidar uses laser pulses from aircraft to create detailed maps of ground features beneath dense vegetation, revolutionizing archaeological surveys in tropical regions.
Will there be excavations at the site?
Researchers are planning to conduct excavations to learn more about the city’s history, but no specific dates have been announced yet.
Are there more undiscovered Maya cities?
Yes, lidar surveys suggest many more sites remain hidden in the region, and ongoing research aims to locate and study them.
Source: reddit
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