Researchers utilized laser-guided imaging technology to discover extensive, previously unexplored Maya settlements in the Campeche region of Mexico. This groundbreaking work uncovered over 6,500 pre-Hispanic structures, including a large city featuring stone pyramids that had not been previously identified. Their study enhances the understanding of the ancient civilization’s vastness and complexity in a region that archaeologists have largely neglected.
Through laser-guided imaging, researchers from Tulane University have revealed extensive Maya settlements in Mexico, shedding light on the ancient civilization’s size and intricacies.
The research, published in the journal Antiquity, was spearheaded by Luke Auld-Thomas, an anthropology doctoral student at Tulane University, along with his advisor, Professor Marcello A. Canuto.
The research team employed lidar, a laser-based detection method, to conduct a survey of 50 square miles in Campeche, Mexico, an area that had been largely ignored by archaeologists. Their discoveries included evidence of over 6,500 pre-Hispanic structures, featuring a large unidentified city complete with iconic pyramids.
“Our analysis not only illustrated a region dense with settlements but also revealed significant variability,” explained Auld-Thomas, a Tulane Anthropology Department doctoral student and instructor at Northern Arizona University. “We stumbled upon not just rural areas and smaller towns, but also a large urban center with pyramids located right next to the only highway in the region, adjacent to a town where farming has been happening among the ruins for years. This was completely unknown to the government and the scientific community, emphasizing that plenty remains to be discovered.”
The Middle American Research Institute (MARI) at Tulane University has been a pioneer in integrating lidar technology into archaeological studies. Over the past decade, MARI has established a cutting-edge Geographic Information Systems (GIS) lab, overseen by Francisco Estrada-Belli, dedicated to analyzing remote sensing data, including lidar.
Lidar technology employs laser pulses to determine distances and build three-dimensional representations of specific areas. This facilitates scientists in scanning extensive areas from the ease of their computer labs, often revealing hidden structures like pyramids, residential homes, and other elements of Maya infrastructure.
“With generous support from the Hitz Foundation, MARI has been leading the way in applying lidar technology in archaeological research over the last ten years,” stated Canuto, the MARI director. “Our focus is now shifting from just analyzing data to collecting and acquiring it. The work performed on this data from Campeche exemplifies the expanding reach of MARI’s ‘lidar footprint.’”
This research could also contribute to settling ongoing discussions about the actual scope of Maya settlements.
“Lidar allows us to quickly map large areas with high precision and detail, prompting us to realize the vast number of buildings we weren’t aware of, suggesting a substantial population,” Auld-Thomas noted. “There has been a counterargument that lidar surveys were overly focused on known, large sites like Tikal, potentially creating a skewed perception of the Maya lowlands. What if the rest of the Maya region was predominantly rural, and what we’ve documented so far was the exception rather than the rule?”
This study underscores the transformative impact of lidar technology in uncovering the mysteries of ancient societies. It also presents strong evidence of a more intricate and diverse Maya landscape than previously assumed.
“Lidar is enlightening us to the idea that, similar to many other ancient cultures, the lowland Maya developed a rich array of towns and communities across their tropical environment,” Canuto remarked. “While some areas are filled with extensive agricultural regions and dense populations, others have smaller communities. Nevertheless, we can now appreciate the extent to which the ancient Maya modified their environment to sustain a complex, enduring society.”
