A huge Mayan city has been discovered centuries after it disappeared under jungle canopy in Mexico.

Archaeologists found pyramids, sports fields, causeways connecting districts and amphitheatres in the southeastern state of Campeche.

They found the hidden complex - which they have called Valeriana - using Lidar, a type of radar survey that maps structures buried under vegetation.

They believe it is second in size only to Calakmul, thought to be the largest Mayan site in ancient Latin America.

  • Pennomi@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1623·
    2 months ago

    Wow I found it totally on accident while processing lidar images with my software specifically designed to detect hidden cities in lidar images!

    Surprising maybe. Accidental? Ehhhh

    • Agent641@lemmy.worldEnglish
      16·
      2 months ago

      “It seems the cat-burgular was caught by the very person who was trying to catch him! How ironic!”

    • CanadaPlus@lemmy.sdf.orgEnglish
      5·
      2 months ago

      I guess the argument is that the lidar scan was for something else? And, of course, it makes a better headline.

      • Pennomi@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        2 months ago

        Yeah the lidar scan was done for other reasons, but this researcher was specifically looking for lidar data to scour through.

        You’re right though, this is a much catchier headline.