TL;DR
A PhD student at Tulane University discovered a large ancient Maya city called Valeriana in Mexico through laser survey data. The find was accidental but reveals significant insights into Maya civilization and regional history. Key details about the site are still emerging.
A PhD student at Tulane University has accidentally discovered a large, previously unknown Maya city called Valeriana in Mexico using laser survey data, marking a significant archaeological breakthrough.
Luke Auld-Thomas, a doctoral researcher, identified the site while analyzing lidar survey data from Mexico’s Campeche region. The survey, conducted by a Mexican environmental organization, was initially intended for ecological monitoring but revealed the presence of extensive ruins beneath the jungle canopy. The city, estimated to have been home to 30,000-50,000 people between 750 and 850 AD, features pyramids, causeways, plazas, and possibly a ball court, indicating it was a major political and cultural center.
The site, named Valeriana after a nearby lagoon, spans approximately 16.6 square kilometers and includes two major centers connected by dense residential areas and causeways. Archaeologists found evidence of large buildings, temples, a reservoir, and burial sites, suggesting a complex society with advanced infrastructure. The discovery was made when Auld-Thomas processed the lidar data with archaeological methods, revealing structures invisible to the naked eye.
Why It Matters
This discovery challenges longstanding assumptions that tropical regions were sparsely populated or abandoned by the Maya during their decline. Instead, it suggests dense urban centers persisted until climate change and other factors led to their decline. The find also underscores the potential for many more undiscovered sites in the region, thanks to lidar technology, which has revolutionized archaeological surveys in jungle-covered areas. The discovery may reshape understanding of Maya civilization’s complexity and resilience.
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Background
Previous research indicated that the Maya civilization was concentrated in well-known sites like Calakmul, but many smaller or hidden cities remained undiscovered. The use of lidar technology has greatly expanded archaeologists’ ability to map beneath dense vegetation, revealing hundreds of new sites across Mesoamerica. The Maya civilization experienced a decline starting around 800 AD, with factors including climate change, warfare, and Spanish conquest contributing to the collapse of many city-states. The discovery of Valeriana adds a new chapter to this history, indicating that large urban centers persisted longer than previously thought.
“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 cultures, not just wilderness or abandoned landscapes. It challenges the outdated notion that civilizations ‘went to die’ in these regions.”
— Professor Marcello Canuto
“The landscape is definitely settled in the past, not uninhabited or wild as it appears today. This supports the idea of densely populated Maya cities in the region.”
— Professor Elizabeth Graham
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What Remains Unclear
It is still unclear what specific events led to the decline and abandonment of Valeriana, or whether further excavations will be conducted. The exact dating of the site and its relationship to other Maya cities require more detailed study. Additionally, no physical excavations have yet confirmed the findings on the ground.
Maya Civilization: A History from Beginning to End (Mesoamerican History)
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What’s Next
Researchers plan to conduct targeted excavations at Valeriana to verify the structures and artifacts identified via lidar. Further surveys may uncover additional nearby sites, and detailed dating and analysis are expected to clarify the city’s history and role within the Maya civilization. The discovery also encourages broader use of lidar technology in the region.
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Key Questions
How was the city of Valeriana discovered?
It was found by a PhD student analyzing lidar survey data from Mexico’s Campeche region, which revealed hidden structures beneath the jungle canopy.
Why is this discovery important?
It challenges existing ideas about Maya civilization decline, showing that large urban centers persisted longer and were more complex than previously thought, especially in dense tropical regions.
What is lidar technology and why is it significant?
Lidar is a remote sensing method that uses laser pulses from aircraft to map objects below vegetation, enabling archaeologists to detect structures hidden beneath jungle cover with high precision.
Are there plans to excavate the site?
Researchers intend to conduct further excavations, but no definitive plans have been announced yet. The site’s proximity to a road makes it accessible for future studies.
Could there be more undiscovered Maya cities in the region?
Yes, lidar surveys suggest many more sites remain hidden in the dense jungle, and ongoing remote sensing efforts are likely to reveal additional lost cities.
Source: reddit
