TL;DR
A PhD student at Tulane University discovered a previously unknown Maya city in Mexico by analyzing lidar survey data found online. The find challenges existing views on Maya civilization and highlights the potential for more undiscovered sites.
A PhD student at Tulane University has accidentally discovered a large, previously unknown Maya city in Mexico while analyzing lidar survey data online, marking a major breakthrough in archaeology and challenging assumptions about ancient civilizations in the region.
Luke Auld-Thomas, a doctoral researcher, identified the site while reviewing environmental lidar data from a Mexican organization, revealing a city named Valeriana in Campeche. The city covers approximately 16.6 square kilometers and features pyramids, plazas, causeways, and a reservoir, indicating a complex urban center that may have supported 30,000 to 50,000 inhabitants during its peak from 750 to 850 AD.
The discovery was made when Auld-Thomas processed the lidar data with archaeological methods, revealing structures hidden beneath dense jungle canopy. The site is located just 15 minutes from a major road near Xpujil, close to modern Maya communities, but had previously gone unnoticed due to its dense vegetation and lack of excavation.
Why It Matters
This discovery challenges the long-held belief that tropical regions of Central America were sparsely populated or abandoned after the decline of classic Maya civilization. It suggests that the area was densely inhabited and culturally rich, with complex urban planning. The find also demonstrates the transformative impact of lidar technology on archaeology, opening the possibility of many more undiscovered sites in similar regions.
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Background
The Maya civilization was known for its impressive cities, but many remain hidden beneath jungle cover. Previous surveys relied heavily on ground excavation, which limited discovery. The use of lidar technology over the past decade has revolutionized the field, mapping thousands of structures across Mesoamerica. This discovery adds to the growing list of Maya sites identified through remote sensing, reshaping understanding of their population density and urbanization.
“I was on something like page 16 of Google search and found a laser survey done by a Mexican organisation for environmental monitoring. It was a lidar survey, which fires thousands of laser pulses from a plane and maps objects below using the time the signal takes to return. When I processed the data with archaeological methods, I saw what others had missed — a huge ancient city.”
— Luke Auld-Thomas
“This find supports the idea that the Tropics were home to complex, densely populated civilizations, not just wilderness or abandoned sites. It changes how we think about Maya urbanism and resilience.”
— Professor Marcello Canuto
“The landscape is definitely settled in the past — not uninhabited or wild as it appears today. The dense population likely contributed to the collapse of Maya cities due to environmental stress.”
— Professor Elizabeth Graham
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What Remains Unclear
Details about the specific reasons for the city’s decline remain uncertain, including the extent of climate impact or warfare. No excavations have been conducted yet, so many features and artifacts are still unconfirmed. It is also unclear how many more undiscovered sites exist in the region.
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What’s Next
Researchers plan to conduct targeted excavations of Valeriana to confirm its features and chronology. Further lidar surveys are expected to identify additional sites, potentially reshaping the map of ancient Maya civilization. Archaeologists also aim to study artifacts and environmental data to understand the city’s history and decline.
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Key Questions
How was the city discovered?
The city was identified by a PhD student analyzing lidar survey data found online, which revealed structures beneath dense jungle canopy that had previously gone unnoticed.
Why is this discovery important?
It challenges the belief that tropical regions were sparsely populated or abandoned after the Maya decline, showing that complex urban centers existed in dense forests.
What technology was used to find the city?
Lidar remote sensing technology, which uses laser pulses from aircraft to map ground features beneath vegetation, was instrumental in this discovery.
Are there plans to excavate the site?
Yes, researchers intend to carry out excavations to verify the structures and artifacts, but no specific timeline has been announced yet.
Could there be more undiscovered Maya cities?
Yes, lidar technology suggests many more sites remain hidden in the region, potentially transforming understanding of ancient Maya civilization.
Source: reddit
