“Lidar is revolutionizing archeology, allowing researchers to peer through thick rainforest canopies without setting foot in the jungle. The technology has helped identify hundreds of thousands of structures in Mayan cities across southern Mexico and northern Guatemala.

More than just revealing lost cities, these findings challenge a long-held belief that the Maya civilization was composed mainly of small, isolated villages. Lidar has instead uncovered a vast, interconnected network of cities, roads, and infrastructure, suggesting an advanced society with extensive trade routes and economic cooperation.

Lidar also revealed parts of an extensive network of elevated highways—massive causeways built centuries before modern roads. Some stretched up to 131 feet wide, connecting cities across vast distances…

The discoveries are reshaping our understanding of the Maya civilization. Settlements once thought to be regional capitals have been revealed as mere suburbs of even larger metropolises. What seemed like natural hills have turned out to be long-lost pyramids. Ravines have been identified as remnants of ancient human-made structures. And what was considered simple trade has emerged as a far-reaching import/export system.”

From Reason.