A team of scientists from several countries has discovered a massive settlement of 2,000-year-old Maya civilization in northern Guatemala. The research was published in the journal Ancient Mesoamerica.
Scientists used LiDAR technology to study the area. This detection system is similar in principle to radar, but relies on laser radiation rather than radio waves. The laser allows you to detect objects hidden under the dense vegetation of tropical forests.
LiDAR allowed scientists to discover traces of an ancient civilization consisting of more than a thousand settlements with a total area of about 1,700 square meters. This discovery refutes theories that early Mesoamerican settlements were sparsely populated. The total length of the tracks reached 180 meters, which made it relatively easy for people to visit neighboring settlements.
Researchers also found evidence of large platforms and pyramids, as well as ritual ball grounds. This indicates that some settlements were of significant economic and political importance. The researchers also discovered that the people of the civilization built channels for the movement of water and reservoirs for its storage, thus giving them access to water during dry periods.