In the dense jungles of Campeche, Mexico, a groundbreaking archaeological discovery reveals a previously unknown Maya city, now named Valeriana. Located just a short walk from the hustle and bustle of a major highway, this city had remained concealed beneath a thick canopy of trees and undergrowth for centuries, its grandeur hidden from archaeologists.
Marcello Canuto, an expert from Tulane University who participated in documenting the site, expressed the awe felt upon uncovering such history: "It’s humbling,” he stated, highlighting the ease with which unknown wonders can exist just a short distance from visible landscapes, buried under the forest's embrace.
The remarkable find was made possible through advanced aerial scanning techniques, particularly lidar technology. Researchers were analyzing images initially intended for ecological studies when they stumbled across the telling shapes of the ancient ruins. Luke Auld-Thomas, a doctoral student involved in the project, noted the site features all the quintessential elements one would expect from a Maya city, describing it as if it could have been designed for a video game—boasting temple pyramids, a sprawling palace complex, expansive public plazas, reservoirs, intricate dams, and a well-defined processional causeway connecting various complexes atop nearby hills.
The archaeological team also documented additional structural remnants, including residential buildings, agricultural terraces, and garden spaces indicative of a highly developed society. With this significant discovery, researchers now have an enhanced understanding of the vast and intricate network of the Maya civilization, suggesting that it may have been more expansive and sophisticated than previously believed.
