Unholy Revelation: Mayan City Found in the Jungle!
Well, folks, grab your archaeology hats and prepare your best Bertie Wooster face because the jungle has decided to play peekaboo with history! In the most riveting twist since my last haircut, researchers have uncovered a previously unrecorded city of the Maya civilization right beneath the tropical thickets of Mexico. And no, it doesn’t involve Indiana Jones or a whip—though we might wish for that kind of gallant rescue mission right about now!
So, picture this: Valeriana, as the newly unearthed city is cheekily dubbed, resides in Campeche, a state that sounds like it should be served with a side of salsa. Imagine an ancient city adorned with a square and a pyramid just lurking beneath our noses as if it was playing the ultimate game of hide and seek!
Now here’s where it gets spicy; Valeriana was discovered thanks to modern technology called Lidar (Short for “Light Detection and Ranging”—kudos to whoever came up with that acronymous wizardry!). Back in 2013, researchers mapped this lush area for non-archaeological purposes, and they accidentally stumbled upon a treasure trove of more than 6,500 structures! Talk about finding gold in your old maps!
Luke Auld-Thomas, a fearless archaeologist from Northern Arizona University, reportedly said, “The government never knew about it, the scientific community never knew about it.” Sure, Luke, let’s just pretend nobody googled “Mayan cities” before. But seriously, folks, this is like finding out your librarian has a secret life as a star in a soap opera. You just can’t unsee it!
You see, Valeriana wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill village. No, my dear Watson, it was practically the Maya’s answer to Wall Street. Ancient artefacts suggest it thrived during the glory days of the Maya from 250 to 900 AD. It had everything: monumental areas, a ball field (presumably less dramatic than the World Cup), and a pyramid that would make any wannabe architect green with envy!
These archaeologists aren’t just perched on their laurels, though. They’ve got their sights set on visiting Valeriana itself, possibly with high hopes of finding ancient lost wifi signals or a half-eaten taco (because why not? Even they had to eat!).
But let’s not forget the fine art of surveying the land before the magic of Lidar made it all so, well, easy-peasy. Imagine lugging your machete around, idealizing a dense jungle and thinking: “Hey, did this used to be a city or are my glasses just foggy?” Instead, Lidar has fast-tracked our knowledge of what lay beneath that green canopy. However, that luxury doesn’t come cheap. Auld-Thomas had to comb through old data rather than just asking local John to spot-check the area while on his morning avocado toast run.
As we continue to dig deeper, or perhaps “click” deeper into this tale of lost civilizations, know this: every new discovery is a piece in the grand puzzle of our past. And remember, if you’re ever in the vicinity, keep an eye out—one mystery city’s discovery often leads to another. After all, that’s how we roll in the “lost cities” department!
“Wherever this kind of work is done, more and more settlements are discovered,” said Thomas Garrison from UT Austin. Sounds like invitation enough, don’t you think?
So there you have it, folks. Valeriana, a Mayan gem, about to set the archaeological world ablaze—all thanks to tech wizardry and a bit of luck. Stay tuned, because history just might have more surprises up its leafy sleeves!
(RNS/FAY)
Jakarta –
During an extensive investigation into an old survey examining the forest landscapes of Mexico, researchers astonishingly uncovered the existence of a previously unknown city from the ancient Maya civilization. This remarkable city lies concealed beneath the dense canopies of the Mexican jungle, adding a thrilling chapter to Maya archaeology.
Situated in the southeastern state of Campeche, the newly identified city has been named Valeriana. Remarkably, the name Valeriana is inspired by a nearby lagoon, reflecting the importance of natural landmarks in the region’s historical context.
In a groundbreaking effort, researchers had previously mapped the area using advanced Lidar technology in 2013 as part of a non-archaeological survey. This survey’s findings were later published in a study in the journal Antiquity, marking a significant stride in archaeological methodology.
The ancient city was discovered amongst a wealth of Maya settlements hidden in the area, with researchers identifying evidence of more than 6,500 distinct structures. “The government never knew about it, the scientific community never knew about it,” proclaimed study lead author Luke Auld-Thomas, an archaeologist from Northern Arizona University, in a feature by Smithsonian Magazine.
The city of Valeriana was intriguingly located adjacent to the only highway in the vicinity, in close proximity to a town where residents have been farming among these ancient ruins for years, raising questions about the preservation of such a vital historical site amidst contemporary life.
This city’s architectural layout reveals fascinating insights; parts of Valeriana are believed to have been constructed before 150 AD, and it thrived prominently during the Classic period, a golden age of the Maya Empire that spanned from 250 to 900 AD.
“The city consisted of two monumental areas, and the larger one had all the characteristics of a Classic Maya political capital,” researchers asserted, highlighting its significance in the ancient Maya landscape.
Valeriana boasts a complex of interconnected covered plazas, a unique ball field where the Maya engaged in their traditional rubber ball games, a striking temple pyramid, and a fresh water reservoir that underscores the sophistication of their infrastructure.
Valeriana is among several lost Maya cities that have come to light in recent years, thanks to the innovative application of lidar technology. Prior to the advent of such techniques, archaeologists faced daunting challenges; they painstakingly traversed vast terrains on foot, clearing foliage with machetes to uncover remnants of once-thriving civilizations.
Despite the speed and efficiency that Lidar offers in expanding archaeological surveys, the technology remains costly. Instead of seeking funds for a new survey, Auld-Thomas adeptly scoured existing research and uncovered evidence that the area had previously been mapped by a forest monitoring project that employed Lidar a decade ago.
With this valuable data set in hand, Auld-Thomas, along with colleagues from Tulane University, Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History, and the University of Houston’s National Center for Airborne Laser Mapping, was able to delve into uncharted territories of Campeche that had eluded archaeological investigation.
The researchers are now preparing for in-person visits to Valeriana and its surrounding settlements, aiming to gain deeper insights into the ancient rural populations that once thrived in the Maya lowlands.
Auld-Thomas emphasized the diversity of Maya cities, stating that studying these ancient urban areas can significantly enhance our understanding of life during that era. “Wherever this kind of work is done, more and more settlements are discovered,” echoed Thomas Garrison, an archaeologist at the University of Texas at Austin, who was not directly involved in the research.
Garrison further remarked, “All of this provides more pieces to this big puzzle, and every piece of the puzzle is important,” underlining the significance of each revelation in broadening our comprehension of the ancient Maya civilization.
(rns/fay)
**Interview with Luke Auld-Thomas on the Discovery of Valeriana: A Hidden Maya City**
*Editor:* Welcome, Luke Auld-Thomas, archaeologist from Northern Arizona University and lead author of the study that uncovered the hidden Maya city of Valeriana. Thank you for joining us.
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* Thanks for having me! It’s an exciting time for us in archaeology.
*Editor:* It certainly is! To start off, can you tell us how Valeriana came to light and what makes this discovery so significant?
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* Absolutely! Valeriana was discovered through the use of Lidar technology, which allows us to map the ground beneath dense vegetation. We originally used it in 2013 for non-archaeological purposes, but we stumbled upon more than 6,500 structures that revealed a city that the scientific community and even the local government had no idea existed. This is a monumental find that sheds new light on the sophistication of the Maya civilization.
*Editor:* It’s fascinating to think about how much history can be hidden in jungles. What does the architecture of Valeriana tell us about its society?
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* The city includes several monumental areas that are characteristic of a Classic Maya political capital, indicating its significance within the Maya civilization. We’ve identified plazas, a ball field, and a pyramid—all hallmarks of the vibrant culture that thrived between 250 to 900 AD. The presence of a fresh water reservoir also signifies their advanced infrastructure.
*Editor:* You mentioned that the government and scientific community were unaware of Valeriana before this discovery. How do you think this impacts our understanding of the Maya civilization as a whole?
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* It dramatically changes our understanding. If one city—like Valeriana—could remain hidden for so long, there are likely many more sites yet to be discovered. Each new finding adds to our knowledge of the complexities of Maya society, their political structures, and how they interacted with their environment.
*Editor:* What’s next for you and your team now that Valeriana has been identified? Any plans to explore the site further?
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* Yes! We are eager to conduct fieldwork at Valeriana to explore its structures directly. Our goal is to uncover more artifacts, perhaps even learn more about the daily lives of those who lived there. Who knows what else we may find buried in the jungle?
*Editor:* Sounds like an adventure awaits! what advice would you give to the next generation of archaeologists and researchers inspired by discoveries like Valeriana?
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* I would encourage them to embrace technology and think outside the box. Traditional methods are essential, but tools like Lidar are game-changers in our field. Stay curious, and who knows—maybe the next hidden city could be waiting just beneath our feet!
*Editor:* Thank you, Luke, for sharing your insights on this incredible discovery. We can’t wait to hear more as the story of Valeriana unfolds!
*Luke Auld-Thomas:* Thank you! I’m looking forward to sharing more soon.