For centuries the jungle of Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula hid an ancient Mayan city, which was discovered by chance by Luke Auld-Thomas, a doctoral student at Tulane University. Examining online laser data, Auld-Thomas spotted traces of pyramids, amphitheaters and squaresconfirming the presence of a vast settlement hidden by dense vegetation.
According to a study published October 29 in the journal Antiquity, the city was named Valerian and dates back to a period between 250 and 900 AD This ancient metropolis includes 6,764 structures of various sizes, including pyramid temples, enclosed squares and sports fields. Thanks to Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which allows the terrain to be mapped through laser pulses, it was possible to identify the city which, in its period of maximum splendor, could host up to 50,000 inhabitants.
Lidar technology and the doctoral student’s “stroke of genius”.
Lidar is an advanced method for detecting buildings hidden under vegetation, but it is very expensive and not accessible to everyone. Auld-Thomas took advantage of a survey carried out to monitor carbon in forests, finding a map that revealed an as yet undiscovered settlement. The city of Valeriana is located just 15 minute walk from a main road near Xpujil, an area still inhabited by the Mayan heirs. Archaeologists said Valeriana possessed the characteristics of a capital city, and the number of buildings makes it comparable only to the well-known site of Calakmul, located about 100km further north.
Extended for 16.6 km²Valeriana was divided into two large neighborhoods connected by causeways. The center also housed a reservoir, a sign of sophisticated management of natural resources to support the population. Although the cause of Valeriana’s abandonment is unclear, it is believed that climate change played a decisive role in its decline.
