Most of the towns are connected by a network of roads and dams. Additionally, these cities appear to be densely populated, contradicting the generally accepted hypothesis that Mayan cities were sparsely populated.

Learn more about the Mayan cities found

LiDAR results “revealed an extraordinary density of Mayan settlements” in Guatemala’s Mirador-Calacmul karst basin.

LiDAR

It is a remote sensing technology that reflects laser beams from surfaces to create detailed maps. This method has revolutionized archeology and many other fields because it can reveal signs of past human activity that may be buried under dense vegetation (a very common problem for Mayan cultural researchers) or otherwise unseen in traditional fieldwork on the ground.

Hansen and his colleagues spent years above the basin at an altitude of about 600 meters, using airborne LiDAR devices to search for hidden traces of ancient settlements. The study revealed a dense concentration of new and previously unknown modern objects, including massive platform structures and pyramids, which indicate the existence of a centralized and complex political structure.

Maya settlements discovered using LiDAR / Photograph Cambridge University Press

These structures include dozens of playgrounds for playing Mesoamerican sports and a complex water management system of canals and reservoirs. The team also explored the remains of the 230-metre-high Dante pyramid located in the Mayan metropolis of El Mirador, which served as an important landmark and epicenter for many overpasses.

Depending on the natural configurations of the native rocks beneath the structure, 6 to 10 million man-days of labor could have been spent on the entire building, exceeding the capabilities of states with lower hierarchical political and economic status, and indicates a high level. organizing as the socio-political and economic patron of such enormous growth,
– Says Hansen and colleagues research.

The new discovery sheds light on the culture of the people who live in the bustling cities of this forest basin. Hansen and his team hope that future research will continue to unravel the mysteries of this ancient civilization and perhaps uncover new settlements that have remained hidden for centuries.