LiDAR Technology has revealed a magnificent cluster of structures, including pyramids reaching heights of up to 25 meters, nestled within the dense jungles of Mexico, belonging to a long-lost Maya city that has been hidden for 1,000 years.
The research, led by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) of Mexico, uncovered a Maya city previously unknown to modern explorers, hidden beneath the thick canopy of the Balamkú Ecological Reserve in the state of Campeche.
Hundreds of large and small structures of the ancient city revealed in LiDAR imagery – (Photo: INAH).
According to Heritage Daily, the city has been named “Ocomtún”, which translates to “stone column,” due to the numerous cylindrical stone columns uncovered throughout the urban area.
Previously, INAH had employed LiDAR, a remote sensing technique utilizing laser beams capable of penetrating thick canopies and various natural obstacles, to search for hidden archaeological remnants. However, the discovery of such an extensive urban center was beyond their previous imaginings.
Ruins of a structure with stone steps found during direct surveys – (Photo: INAH).
Ocomtún features numerous characteristic Maya pyramids with an average height of 15 meters, the tallest reaching up to 25 meters; a vast plaza with auxiliary structures arranged in concentric circles; a large elevated road in the southeast; and a neatly organized residential area…
The structures of Ocomtún indicate that it was constructed around 250 AD and remained in use until 1000 AD.
Between 800 and 1000 AD, a series of large-scale construction activities were carried out, enhancing the city’s landscape with magnificent temples, ceremonial plazas, and many terraced fields developed around the urban area.
This ancient metropolis stands as the latest testament to the advanced construction, urban planning, and scientific techniques of the Maya civilization, far ahead of its time.
By the 10th century, the population declined and this city was abandoned, sharing the fate of many contemporary Maya cities, marking the end of a powerful empire that dominated Central America for centuries.
