Archaeologists Uncover Hidden Maya City ‘Minanbé’ Using LiDAR Technology

TITLE: Archaeologists Uncover Hidden Maya City ‘Minanbé’ Using LiDAR Technology
SLUG: archaeologists-uncover-hidden-maya-city-minanbe-lidar
EXCERPT: A team of archaeologists has discovered a previously unknown Maya city, named Minanbé, deep within Mexico’s Calakmul Biosphere Reserve, utilizing advanced LiDAR technology to penetrate dense jungle and revealing a significant urban center from the Late Classic period.
CATEGORY: AI News
TAGS: archaeology, AI, LiDAR, Maya, Mexico, urbanism, discovery, technology
SEO_TITLE: Hidden Maya City Discovered Using LiDAR Offers Glimpse into Ancient Urbanism
SEO_DESCRIPTION: Archaeologists have unearthed Minanbé, a significant Maya city hidden for centuries in the Mexican jungle, thanks to LiDAR technology, shedding light on Late Classic period urban life and development.
MEDIA_QUERY: Drone footage over dense jungle canopy, revealing the outlines of ancient stone structures emerging from the trees.
IMAGE_ALT: Aerial view of archaeological site showing stone structures partially obscured by dense jungle foliage.

In a remarkable feat of exploration and technological application, archaeologists have uncovered a significant Maya city, now named Minanbé, hidden for centuries within the dense jungle of Mexico’s Campeche region. The discovery, made possible through the use of airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology, offers a rare glimpse into a previously unknown urban center that played a role during the Late Classic period (600-900 AD).

The arduous journey to Minanbé, meaning “no path” in the Yucatec Maya language, highlights the challenges of remote archaeological exploration. Researchers, led by Slovenian archaeologist Ivan Šprajc, had to navigate kilometers of dense rainforest, first by quad bikes along old logging trails, and then on foot, clearing their path with machetes. This difficult access, however, also contributed to the site’s remarkable preservation.

LiDAR Technology’s Crucial Role

The existence of Minanbé was first hinted at over a decade ago through aerial LiDAR scans. This technology uses laser pulses to map terrain beneath dense vegetation, revealing man-made structures that would be invisible from the ground. The scans indicated an urban settlement of approximately 15 hectares. The recent field season allowed the team to finally verify these airborne findings on the ground, confirming the presence of an intact urban core.

Unearthing a Thriving City

Upon reaching the site, the team discovered a well-preserved urban nucleus featuring plazas, palatial and religious structures, terraces, and hydraulic systems. The most striking feature is a pyramid-shaped temple standing over 13 meters tall, exhibiting architectural styles reminiscent of the Río Bec region, known for its complex tower structures. The detailed masonry, smooth facade panels, steep staircase, and moldings on the temple have been particularly noted by experts.

Key Facts

A Glimpse into Maya Political Power and Ritual

The discovery is significant not only for its scale but also for the insights it provides into Maya society. The presence of monumental architecture suggests Minanbé was more than a minor settlement; it likely held considerable political power. Researchers have created 3D models of 14 altars and stelae, including one depicting a decapitation scene. This stela, dated to 849 AD, provides a crucial temporal anchor, suggesting the city’s monuments were erected around the time of the Terminal Classic period, preceding the region’s abandonment in the 10th century AD. The possibility of external groups deliberately altering some monuments is also being investigated.

The intact nature of Minanbé, with no evidence of looting, is a rarity in archaeological discoveries and offers an unparalleled opportunity to study Maya urbanism and culture without the damage often inflicted by illicit activities.

Source: “No hay indicios de saqueo”: los arqueólogos han llegado a machetazos a una ciudad maya oculta durante siglos en la selva – Xataka, https://www.xataka.com/magnet/no-hay-indicios-saqueo-arqueologos-han-llegado-a-machetazos-a-ciudad-maya-oculta-durante-siglos-selva