Archaeologists in Mexico have made a significant discovery with the finding of a massive Mayan city hidden deep in the jungle of the Campeche region. Named Valeriana, the sprawling urban settlement is challenging existing knowledge of Mayan settlements and shedding light on ancient urbanization and settlement patterns. The city was discovered by chance using Lidar technology, which uses lasers to map archaeological landscapes. The study’s dataset was collected in 2013 as part of a forest monitoring project called Alianza. The researchers argue that the data demonstrate a range of ancient settlement densities comparable to those documented in the region. The discovery of Valeriana emphasizes the gaps in knowledge about large sites in unmapped areas of the Maya Lowlands, providing insight into the classical-era Mayan civilization between 250 and 900 AD. This groundbreaking discovery is a milestone in understanding the rich history and culture of the Mayan civilization.
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Mayan city found serendipitously in Mexican jungle | Global News
