RESEARCHERS have discovered the ruins of a 2 000-year-old Mayan town hidden beneath Guatemala’s rainforest using laser technology. Archaeologists uncovered about 1 000 human settlements that were built between 1000BC and the year 150.
The buildings and structures are interconnected with causeways (raised roads) which the Mayans would have used to move around the area. The team also came across the remains of pyramids, as well as canals and water storage facilities.
What’s more, they found that some of the settlements had ball courts next to them – suggesting that ancient people would have played some kind of sport there.
The groundbreaking research was carried out using lidar technology (see box).
When it comes to discovering lost civilizations, experts say it’s a pretty big find. Because the vegetation and foliage are so dense, the ancient city could’ve remained hidden in the rainforest forever.
WHO WERE THE MAYANS?
The Mayans were an ancient civilization who lived
