An Entire Lost Maya City Was Discovered by Accident

A Maya city, Valeriana, has been uncovered in Campeche, Mexico, thanks to PhD student Luke Auld-Thomas, who found hidden Lidar survey data while browsing the internet. The ancient city, spanning 16.6 square kilometers, contains over 6,700 structures, including pyramids, plazas, and a ball court. At its peak, Valeriana housed 30,000-50,000 people. The discovery challenges the belief that rainforests were inhospitable to complex civilizations. Though the city is near modern roads, it remained hidden due to dense jungle. The discovery opens new avenues for understanding the Maya, though limited resources may hinder large-scale excavation.