Uploaded December 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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.
✨ MUSIC CREDIT
Music I Use: bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License code: YD3SKFJMVNDTLWEX
✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
CC BY 4.0 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 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
La Danta pyramid, credit: Dennis Jarvis
CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Social media page: El Mirador, credit: Geoff Gallice
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
✨ JOIN MY CHANNEL
youtube.com/channel/UC0Hs5t0U6Uf993Tba22YmKA/join
✨ SUPPORT VIA PATREON
patreon.com/MegalithHunter
✨ FOLLOW ME ON SOCIALS
Instagram & Facebook: @MegalithHunter
Twitter: @Megalith_Hunter
✨ 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.
✨ MUSIC CREDIT
Music I Use: bensound.com/free-music-for-videos
License code: YD3SKFJMVNDTLWEX
✨ PHOTOGRAPH CREDITS
CC BY 4.0 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 creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
La Danta pyramid, credit: Dennis Jarvis
CC BY 2.0 creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
Social media page: El Mirador, credit: Geoff Gallice
