Researchers have uncovered a significant ancient city, dubbed "Valeriana," in the jungles of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, revealing a population that may have ranged between 30,000 and 50,000 during its peak from 750 to 850 CE. This discovery was made possible through the use of LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which allows for detailed mapping beneath dense vegetation.
The LiDAR data, collected in 2013 as part of a forest monitoring project aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation, covered approximately 122 square kilometers. Upon analyzing the data with archaeological methods, researchers identified the extensive urban landscape, which includes agricultural fields, sports courts, an amphitheater, and pyramid-like structures.
Luke Auld-Thomas from Northern Arizona University, the study's lead author, emphasized the discovery's implications, stating, "Our analysis revealed not only a densely populated region but also significant variability in settlement patterns." He noted the presence of smaller rural areas alongside the large city, positioned near the only road in the vicinity, where local communities continue agricultural practices among the ruins.
Further exploration in the Central Maya Lowlands, which spans parts of modern-day Guatemala, Belize, and the Mexican states of Campeche and Quintana Roo, is anticipated. Auld-Thomas remarked that "there is still much to uncover" in this historically rich region.
The findings contribute to the understanding of the Maya civilization, which thrived across a vast territory from present-day Mexico to Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala, reaching its zenith between 250 and 900 CE before declining due to factors that may include climate change, as indicated by Professor Marcello Canuto, another team member. The research was published in the journal Antiquity.