A collaborative team of scientists from several nations has identified a vast Maya settlement in northern Guatemala, dating back about two millennia. The researchers describe their findings in the journal Ancient Mesoamerica, highlighting a glimpse into a once-flourishing urban landscape that challenges earlier ideas about how densely populated Maya territories were during this era.
To map the landscape, the team employed LiDAR technology, a laser-based scanning method that penetrates leafy canopies to reveal ground features. Unlike conventional radar, LiDAR uses light waves to generate high-resolution 3D models, enabling researchers to see past the dense tropical forest that often hides ancient remains. This capability is crucial for reconstructing settlements that would be otherwise indistinguishable from their surroundings at ground level. The LiDAR data offered a detailed view of the site, providing a powerful glimpse into a past landscape that endured in the modern forest for centuries. (Source: Ancient Mesoamerica)
The survey uncovered evidence of more than a thousand separate settlements spread over an extensive area, totaling roughly 1,700 square meters of ancient activity. The network of linear features and mound bases indicated a well-organized region rather than a scattered, sparsely populated frontier. The measured segments stretched along a system of interconnected routes, with traces of a total reach that extended up to about 180 meters in length. This configuration would have facilitated daily movement and interaction among neighboring communities, suggesting a coherent regional framework rather than isolated villages. (Source: Ancient Mesoamerica)
Within the broader complex, researchers identified large platforms, ceremonial pyramids, and preserved ball courts used for ritual games. These architectural elements point to settlements that held significant economic and political importance within the Maya world. The presence of these structures implies governance institutions, ritual centers, and urban nodes capable of coordinating resources and social activities across a wide area. The site likely supported ceremonies, trade, and governance that connected rural communities with larger political centers. (Source: Ancient Mesoamerica)
Additional findings reveal infrastructural ingenuity, including water-management works designed to sustain populations during dry spells. Evidence of channels for directing water and reservoirs for storage indicates strategic planning that ensured reliable access to water resources. Such systems would have been vital for agriculture, daily living, and ritual practices alike, underscoring the sophistication of Maya hydraulic engineering in this region. The integration of water control with urban planning demonstrates a mature, interconnected society capable of sustaining complex, long-distance networks across the northern Guatemalan lowlands. (Source: Ancient Mesoamerica)