Technologies represent a significant aid in the lives of human beings. As such, using unconventional methods, surprising results can be obtained. A compelling example of this truth is the discovery, in southern Mexico, of the largest and oldest monument of the Mayan civilization ever unveiled. At the heart of the discovery is LiDAR technology, yes, the same that is used for autonomous cars can “see”.
With 1,413 meters long and 399 meters wide, this ceremonial structure reveals new details about the civilization of the American continent.
LiDAR in the discoveries of the Mayan civilization
Using LiDAR technology, a group of archaeologists discovered the largest and oldest structure from the Mayan era. As you can see, this monument is very different from the famous pyramids in cities like Tikal in Guatemala and Palenque in Mexico, structures that will have been erected some 1500 years later.
As noted by the Nature, these buildings are not built in stone. In fact, the entire monument was erected in clay and earth and was probably used for mass rituals, according to the researchers who located it.
It is a type of audience almost a kilometer and a half long and half a kilometer wide. As for its height, they estimate that it is between 10 and 15 meters. It is literally an artificial audience located in a place called Aguada Fénix, in the Mexican state of Tabasco.
Looking at what optical detection technology has found, above it appears to be two buildings. The first and perhaps the most relevant is a pyramid about 15 meters high. On the other hand, there is a more elongated construction, which reaches about 400 meters in length.
As already mentioned, the building element here is clay and not stone. Perhaps this is due to its antiquity, which is hundreds of years older than other more popular Mayan monuments. Therefore, construction materials are also more rudimentary.
What would this monument be for?
Given its similarity to other structures found in other areas inhabited by the Maya, researchers believe it was used to study the movements of stars. This relationship with the stars also implies a strong link with religious rituals.
A final interesting aspect is the possible hierarchical equality that archeologists have deduced from the population. Given the absence of statues or other elements to represent individuals of high status, archeologists believe that a more egalitarian and free society existed in these early stages of Mayan civilization.
It is one of the most important historical civilizations of mankind, although its ending is somewhat disappointing.
Because it is so big horizontally, you can walk on it, it looks like a natural landscape.
Said University of Arizona archaeologist Takeshi Inomata, who led the research published in the journal Nature.
Laser mapping for 3D area map
Without laser technology, the discovery of this new Mayan monument would not have been possible. An aerial laser scan allowed researchers to be able to make a 3D map of what was hidden below the surface. Thus, with this method, the researchers were able to identify such an artificial audience. In fact, they indicate that, given its immensity and despite being in a populated area, it would be impossible without aerial screening.
This type of technology and methodology has been used before. In fact, in 2018, LiDAR was used to find a gigantic Mayan infrastructure, hidden in the Guatemalan jungle. In 2019, the same laser technology was important to bring about an infrastructure of transport channels also hidden in the jungle.
This will certainly not be the last time that LiDAR is used to "dig up" traces and marks of cultures from the civilization that the jungle has hidden.
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