In an extraordinary twist of fate, a lost Mayan city has been discovered in Mexico, redefining our understanding of ancient civilizations. This monumental find, known as Valeriana, was uncovered by accident when Luke Auld-Thomas, a PhD student at Tulane University, stumbled upon a laser survey intended for environmental monitoring.
Employing aerial LiDAR technology, which uses laser pulses to map ground surfaces hidden by dense vegetation, Auld-Thomas unearthed an ancient cityscape that had long been swallowed by the Mexican jungle in the state of Campeche. The discovery includes structures that point to a bustling metropolis that might have housed between 30,000 to 50,000 people at its peak from 750 to 850 AD.
Valeriana boasts all the hallmarks of a significant Mayan political center. The city features pyramid temples, enclosed plazas, a ball court, and amphitheaters, resonating with the grandeur of other famous Mayan sites. Interestingly, the city’s architectural layout suggests its foundation may date back even further, to 150 AD, according to a study recently published in the journal Antiquity.
This find not only sheds light on Mayan civilization’s complexity and organization but also demonstrates the power of modern technology in archaeology. Dr. Marcello Canuto, an archaeologist at Tulane University and part of the research team, noted, “LiDAR is transforming our understanding of ancient cultures. It allows us to see beyond the overgrowth and discover sites that were previously unreachable.”
LiDAR technology has been instrumental in uncovering other hidden Mayan sites across Central America. The discovery of Valeriana adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that the Maya civilization was much more widespread and complex than historians previously believed. According to the National Institute of Anthropology and History in Mexico, discoveries like this provide invaluable insights into the social, economic, and political life of ancient Maya societies.
The revelation of Valeriana underscores the potential for future discoveries. As technology continues to advance, the layers of history buried beneath us become increasingly accessible, offering tantalizing glimpses into humanity’s distant past. For archaeologists and historians alike, Valeriana represents not just a lost city, but a new chapter in the ongoing story of the Maya civilization.
