Researchers from the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH), in collaboration with the universities of Tulane, Northern Arizona and Houston, announced an archaeological discovery in Campeche.
Called Valeriana, the site is located near a freshwater lagoon of the same name and extends across 16.6 square kilometers, revealing a population density and structural complexity that offers a new perspective on the Mayan civilization in the region.
The site, which dates back to the Classic Maya period (250-900 AD), presents vestiges of agricultural infrastructure, as well as monumental structures characteristic of advanced Mayan settlements.
Among the main elements of Valeriana are closed plazas, pyramidal buildings, a ball court and a reservoir, which indicates the existence of advanced hydraulic engineering systems to store water, an essential practice in the Mayan territory.
This architectural complex also includes Group E, a type of ceremonial complex common in ancient settlements and which points to a foundational phase prior to 150 AD, suggesting that the site had an early and sustained occupation.
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The discovery was possible thanks to LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, which uses laser pulses to map large areas of land, even in densely forested areas.
The research began in 2013, when INAH and other organizations began using LiDAR in forest monitoring projects. From the data collected, the researchers analyzed an area of 122 square kilometers, where they managed to identify 6,479 structures, with an average density of 52.9 architectural elements per square kilometer.
According to Adriana Velázquez Morlet, director of the INAH Campeche Center and co-author of the research, this density is comparable to that of Mayan sites of historical importance, such as Calakmul and Oxpemul, which reveals the magnitude and population density that this region once had.
The discovery highlights the architectural sophistication and urban development that this pre-Hispanic region achieved, compared to other sites such as Calakmul.
Velázquez Morlet explained that the density of structures found through LiDAR technology is similar to that of large Mayan cities, showing that this region still has sites of high archaeological importance.
The INAH team has begun field work and coordination with local communities to guarantee its conservation, while strategies are planned for the study and protection of this heritage.
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