Ancient Mayan City Discovered via Page 16 of Google Search Results
Short summary:
There is a big discovery on 16th page of Google search results - a hidden Mayan city in the jungle. Using special radar and smart research, archaeologists found a lost city that may have been home to thousands of people.
A remarkable discovery of a lost Mayan city, named Valeriana, was made after Ph.D. student Luke Auld-Thomas from Tulane University stumbled upon lidar survey data on the 16th page of a Google search. The aerial survey, originally conducted for environmental monitoring, used laser technology to create detailed 3D maps of the jungle-covered terrain in Campeche, Mexico. Upon processing the data with archaeological tools, Auld-Thomas uncovered remnants of a sprawling ancient city that may have housed up to 50,000 people around 800 AD.
Subsequent investigations revealed a city covering 6.4 square miles (16.6 square kilometers) with nearly 6,800 buildings, including pyramids, plazas, causeways, amphitheaters, and even a court for ball games. Valeriana’s advanced infrastructure suggests it was a thriving center of Mayan civilization. While the reasons for its abandonment remain unclear, climate-related droughts are believed to have forced its inhabitants to relocate.
The discovery highlights the transformative impact of lidar technology in archaeology, enabling researchers to uncover ancient sites hidden beneath dense vegetation far faster than traditional methods. However, as Auld-Thomas noted, the abundance of new sites discovered in the lidar era poses challenges for thorough study. This find, facilitated by persistence in exploring Google search results, underscores the convergence of modern technology and diligent research in uncovering history.