NEW Paper On The LiDAR Surveys Of Extensive MAYAN Ruins!

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A paper recently published in the journal Ancient Mesoamerica details the results of two extensive LiDAR surveys of the Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin in Guatemala which uncovered almost 2,000 square kilometres of Mayan ruins! This study, along with archaeological excavations, has helped experts to understand more about the social, economic and political realities of the Mayan Civilization during the Middle and Late Preclassic periods.

This video discusses the fascinating discoveries outlined in the paper. From monumental pyramids and causeways, to water management systems and defensive moats, the Mirador Calakmul Karst Basin was packed with architecture and infrastructure that must have been planned and developed by thousands of skilled workers. The LiDAR surveys revealed almost 1,000 settlements, many of which were interconnected by extensive causeways. It’s amazing to think what lies hidden and awaiting excavation!

#ancienthistory #mayans #mesoamerica

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✨ REFERENCES

Hansen, R.D., Morales-Aguilar, C., Thompson, J., Ensley, R., Hernández, E., Schreiner, T., Suyuc-Ley, E. and Martínez, G., 2022. LiDAR analyses in the contiguous Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin, Guatemala: an introduction to new perspectives on regional early Maya socioeconomic and political organization. Ancient Mesoamerica, pp.1-40.

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✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS

CC BY 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Thumbnail: La Danta pyramid LiDAR, credit: Hansen, R. D., et al. Figure 16 in the paper referenced above.
Drainage map, site map, tiered settlements, monumental architecture, El Mirador, E-Groups, triadic architecture, El Mirador triadic structures, causeways and reservoirs, causeways
credit: Hansen, R. D., et al. Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18 respectively in the paper referenced above.
La Danta animation, credit: Warex 3D

CC BY-SA 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/
La Danta pyramid, credit: Dennis Jarvis

CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/
Social media page: El Mirador, credit: Geoff Gallice

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13 thoughts on “NEW Paper On The LiDAR Surveys Of Extensive MAYAN Ruins!”

  2. OMG I missed the first part. In the hospital! I hope all is well now. Take care. Get some rest. Thanks for sharing this with us. Must get to Central America soon. I appreciate your hard work Laura! Again…take care!

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  3. Nice pronunciation of strange names, really interesting information ! I'm rushing around getting ready for visitors so not going to be able to join in the conversation but I'm rewatching while I do chores, love your work Laura 💖 💕

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  6. I’m so sorry I missed your live presentation. We got down to sub 0 single digits for a week. I’ve spent the last 36 hours in “plumber mode” now that the pipes have thawed.

    LiDAR is most interesting. Most of the things being found are in conjunction to commercial surveys looking for pipe lines and highway routes. I think there is more to come! Sadly for establishment archeology this will just encourage Graham Hancock the more.

    Even better is bathymetric swath LiDAR. There are several papers in Hydro-international discussing this technology. Oct 2018 and Dec 2020 in particular. To date there are a couple of ROV systems capable of precision probing in sediment up to 3 meters with precision of resolution to 10-12cm objects. Yes, this old fox is bi-lingual speaking both imperial, standard and metric when so pressed!

    So far the cutting edge of this technology is largely proprietary, and kept close for financial reasons. The marine surveyors are also taking a lesson from their terrestrial brethren. To wit “don’t tell anybody if you find neat stuff”. Why? Because Graham Hancock will show up? In a manner of speaking.

    As history buffs we can’t understand why more is not done. Having spent about a decade of my life doing marine surveys in the bad old pre-LiDAR, yes even pre-swath days, I’m here to tell you that such work is $$$costly$$$. And now LiDAR is 10X$$$. And the latest bathymetric LiDAR is twice that.

    So consider the company that invested millions in equipment, funds a project to the tune of 6-7 figures per day of data collection to meet the needs of some for-profit construction project…..and, god-forbid finds some old pyramid.

    We say “great”! They say “hell”. Why? Because we and the archeology community and the governments suddenly say we want your data. And the next time your out with your gizmo we want you to develop this area or that one. At no cost to us of course. Old fox is also cynical.

    The hard fact is that the cost of this technology is beyond the means of archeology. And the military/big oil/marine construction folks that can and do afford such are highly focused. And stumbling across Atlantis while surveying for a pipeline is a distraction they prefer to avoid. Sadly. But that will change. With time. Just be aware of the gems of wisdom yet to come.

    Well I have to run. Here comes Graham Hancock! Pursued by the staff of the National Geographic with pitchforks and torches and a bucket of hot tar. No place for a fox!

    Fox out

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