NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Authorities announced on Wednesday that archaeologists, employing advanced laser-sensing technology known as LiDAR, have possibly uncovered an ancient Mayan city hidden beneath the dense jungles of southern Mexico. The site, named Valeriana by researchers after a nearby lagoon, may rival the well-known pre-Hispanic city of Calakmul in the southern Yucatan peninsula.
Approximately 6,479 structures have been identified in LiDAR images spanning about 47 square miles (122 square kilometers). This innovative technique uses thousands of laser pulses emitted from an aircraft to map the landscape, revealing topographical variations that are often imperceptible to the naked eye.
The revealed structures include diverse features such as temple platforms, ceremonial ball courts, residential platforms, agricultural terraces, and even potential dam constructions. The researchers speculate that these structures date back to between 250 and 900 A.D., with evidence suggesting settlement might have begun as early as 100 years prior.
This remarkable discovery was made by a consortium of researchers who re-analyzed data from a LiDAR survey conducted in 2013, initially aimed at measuring deforestation. During this re-examination, Luke Auld-Thomas, then a graduate student at Tulane University, observed unusual formations within the jungle images.
According to Adriana Velázquez Morlet of Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, who co-authored the report, prior research indicated that much of today’s Campeche state was altered by its ancient inhabitants. This latest study highlights that a lesser-known region was significantly urbanized, suggesting that the previously perceived empty jungles were, in fact, densely populated areas.
Tulane professor Marcello Canuto remarked that the extensive data gathered will enable scientists to construct a richer narrative about ancient Mayan civilization, integrating political and religious histories with newfound insights into the daily lives and practices of these people. He noted, “We can now correlate settlement patterns with their societal conflicts, governance, and trade networks, enhancing our overall understanding of their civilization.”
However, Susan D. Gillespie, an anthropology professor at the University of Florida who was not involved in the study, cautioned that while LiDAR is invaluable, the features identified will need verification through field research. She pointed out the possibility of misinterpretation, as small natural rock piles, known locally as chich, may have been mistaken for housing structures due to their similar size and shape. Gillespie emphasized that the feature counts presented in the findings are preliminary.
She also highlighted an important consideration regarding the timing of the interactions with these mapped features, stating, “LiDAR reveals what exists on the surface, but it does not provide a timeline of usage. A region may show a high density of structures, but aerial survey data alone cannot determine how many were occupied at any given time.”
