PhD student finds lost city in Mexico jungle by accident

In a remarkable turn of events, archaeologists have stumbled upon a lost city of the ancient Maya civilization deep within the jungles of Mexico. This city, named Valeriana, was hidden beneath the dense foliage for centuries, and its discovery has opened up new avenues for understanding the rich history of the Maya people. The team of researchers, utilizing a cutting-edge technology known as Lidar, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, was able to uncover the remnants of this once-thriving metropolis. Lidar works by sending thousands of laser pulses from an aircraft, allowing scientists to create detailed maps of structures that are otherwise obscured by vegetation. The findings from the Lidar survey revealed an impressive array of features, including pyramids, sports fields, and extensive causeways that connected various districts within the city. The researchers believe that Valeriana may have been home to a population ranging from 30,000 to 50,000 people at its peak, which occurred between 750 and 850 AD. This is a staggering number, especially when compared to the current population of the region. Luke Auld-Thomas, a PhD student at Tulane University, played a pivotal role in this discovery. He found the Lidar data while browsing the internet, and upon analyzing it with archaeological methods, he uncovered the existence of this vast ancient city. Auld-Thomas explained, 'I was on something like page 16 of Google search and found a laser survey done by a Mexican organization for environmental monitoring. ' The city of Valeriana is located in the southeastern state of Campeche, not far from a major road, making it relatively accessible for future exploration. The researchers have noted that Valeriana exhibits characteristics typical of a capital city, with a density of buildings second only to the renowned Calakmul site, located approximately 100 kilometers away. The discovery challenges the long-held belief that tropical regions were inhospitable to complex civilizations, suggesting instead that the Maya developed rich and intricate cultures in these areas. While the exact reasons for the city's eventual decline remain uncertain, the researchers speculate that climate change played a significant role. The evidence suggests that the Maya civilization faced challenges due to environmental changes, which may have contributed to the abandonment of their cities. Valeriana covers an area of about 16. 6 square kilometers and features two main centers with large structures situated approximately 2 kilometers apart. These centers are connected by a network of houses and causeways, indicating a well-planned urban layout. The city also contained plazas with temple pyramids, where the Maya engaged in religious practices, and evidence of a court for playing an ancient ball game. Additionally, the presence of a reservoir suggests that the inhabitants were adept at managing their water resources to support a large population. In total, the research team identified 6,764 buildings of various sizes within the surveyed area. This discovery reinforces the notion that the Maya lived in complex urban environments rather than isolated villages, as previously thought. Professor Elizabeth Graham from University College London, who was not involved in the research, emphasized the significance of these findings, stating, 'The point is that the landscape is definitely settled - that is, settled in the past - and not, as it appears to the naked eye, uninhabited or ‘wild’. ' The research indicates that the collapse of Maya civilizations around 800 AD may have been partly due to overpopulation and the inability to adapt to climate challenges. Auld-Thomas noted, 'It's suggesting that the landscape was just completely full of people at the onset of drought conditions and it didn't have a lot of flexibility left. ' The discovery of Valeriana is just one of many potential sites that could be uncovered using Lidar technology, which has revolutionized the field of archaeology. In the past, archaeologists relied on manual surveys, which were time-consuming and limited in scope. However, with the advent of Lidar, researchers can now map vast areas of land in a fraction of the time. Auld-Thomas expressed his excitement about the potential for future discoveries, stating, 'I've got to go to Valeriana at some point. It's so close to the road, how could you not? But I can't say we will do a project there. ' The research findings have been published in the academic journal Antiquity, marking a significant contribution to our understanding of the ancient Maya civilization and the complexities of their urban environments.