Ancient Mayan City Found Buried In Mexico
A new Mayan city has been found underground in Mexico, on the Yucatán Peninsula. Archaeologists believe the massive city was a political capital based on the presence of large, civic buildings similar to other capital cities in the area. The discovery was made possible by new laser survey technology and archival research from Luke Auld-Thomas and his team, who discovered the site.
The City Of Valeriana
Auld-Thomas named the Mayan city Valeriana after a nearby lagoon and published his findings in Antiquity. Valeriana was a major urban area, with thousands of buildings spread through the area, including some monumental structures. It’s been dated to the classical period, constructed between 250 and 900 A.D.
The large, civic buildings are important, indicating that the Mayan city was likely a political capital. Enclosed plazas, temples, and ball courts are all present and generally considered the signs of a political capital in the region. The pyramid temples are notably similar in design to others in the area, such as Chichén Itzá.
Finding The Ancient City
Valeriana was discovered thanks to laser, or LiDAR, surveys. This relatively new technology sends laser pulses into the ground to create maps of what lies beneath, and they are used in a variety of fields. Those surveys revealed the buildings of the ancient Mayan city beneath the Earth’s surface under modern infrastructure and farmlands.
Auld-Thomas and his team didn’t perform the laser surveys themselves, instead combing through records of various surveys performed by various agencies for signs of a Mayan city. The critical survey came from a forestry service survey created to monitor carbon levels in a nearby forest. Once they knew where to look, Auld-Thomas and his team were able to discover Valeriana.
The location of Valeriana also makes the Mayan city’s discovery noteworthy. It is located in East-Central Campeche, and it’s the first such site to be discovered in that region, expanding the scope of the ancient civilization that once ruled the region. Finding a major city, with so many indicators of political importance means Valeriana wasn’t just an outpost but a sign that the region was firmly under their control.
As laser surveys have become more common, they’ve revealed many previously undiscovered ancient ruins, with the Mayan city being the latest example. These new sites help to illuminate ancient civilizations, challenging beliefs about their scope, geographic diversity, and sophistication.
These discoveries also prove that there’s still plenty to discover about the ancient world, with a sprawling urban area remaining secret for centuries beneath the Earth’s surface.
Much Is Still A Mystery
With the Mayan city still buried, the details of its structures and history remain largely unknown. However, its discovery could lead to dig sites looking for artifacts and human remains, which can be incredibly informative. It will also cause historians to reconsider the details of the ancient North American world.
New technology has led to an explosion of archeological discoveries in recent years, with the secret Mayan city being a perfect example. These discoveries help us understand the people of the past and often have a ripple effect on the other social sciences. Valeriana is a huge discovery and it’s sure to have academic ramifications for years to come.
Source: Antiquity
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