LiDAR Unveils Hidden Maya City 'Valeriana' in Mexico

Researchers discover over 6,600 ancient structures in Campeche, revealing a densely populated Maya civilization.

• Valeriana, a newly discovered Maya city, features grand pyramids, plazas, and a reservoir, indicating its role as a political capital.
• LiDAR technology allowed archaeologists to map the dense jungle without physical excavation, uncovering a vast network of settlements.
• The discovery challenges previous assumptions, suggesting a more urbanized and populous Maya civilization than previously thought.
• The study was led by Luke Auld-Thomas from Northern Arizona University and highlights the potential of LiDAR in archaeological research.
• This finding underscores the existence of significant gaps in our understanding of the Maya Lowlands, with more discoveries likely under the forest canopy.

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