Unveiling Mayan mysteries: Modern physics revolutionizes archaeology research 

Buried within blooming jungles in northern Guatemala lie ancient Mayan settlements with detailed palaces, monumental pyramids, and even ball courts for competitive sports. Within the archeological community, it had been generally accepted that this area in Northern Guatemala, known as the Mayan lowlands, was sparsely populated throughout history. However, with the help of modern technology, archeologists have identified over 1,000 ancient Mayan settlements, dating back to 1000 B.C.E, exhibiting infrastructure significantly ahead of its time. 

Richard Hansen, a researcher at Idaho State University, is the lead author of a study identifying Mayan settlements using new technology and the director of the Mirador Basin, a group based in Guatemala dedicated to studying and protecting the Mayan lowlands. In collaboration with researchers from the United States and Guatemala, Hansen utilizes planes with lidar equipment to analyze the Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin in Guatemala, an area spanning 1.6 million acres of tropical rainforest. 

Planes with lidar and light-detecting equipment provide a special advantage to studying these areas because rather than exploring these areas on foot, a difficult task when these settlements are covered in vegetation, researchers can quickly identify and discern ruins of interest. A lidar sensor emits lasers into the area below the plane which then bounce off objects and return to the lidar sensor. Given this information, the lidar sensor can calculate the time it took for the laser to return and determine the distance the pulse traveled. This information is then processed using specialized software programs to create three-dimensional models of the settlements. Using this technique, researchers can remove the vegetation and produce settlement models without harming the existing wildlife. Carlos Morales-Aguilar, a co-author of this research and a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, states, “You can map in minutes what we once mapped in years.”

“Carlos Morales-Aguilar, a co-author of this research and a researcher at the University of Texas at Austin, states, ‘You can map in minutes what we once mapped in years.’ “

Importantly, Hansen’s group made this landmark accomplishment without harming existing wildlife in Northern Guatemala. The United States Agency for International Development reports that wildlife in Guatemala is at significant threat due to the trafficking of flora and fauna, climate change, criminal activity, limited governance, and lack of funding for restorative projects. As scientific and historical advancements continue, it is important to consider ecological impacts and develop techniques that preserve wildlife and promote climate awareness, such as the lidar sensor.

Within the past few years, archeologists have discovered fascinating findings; for example, the city of El Mirador was uncovered, containing “La Danta,” a pyramid towering at 230 feet, among the largest in the world. In addition, the lidar data revealed detailed canals, temples, dams, ceremonial complexes, and over 100 miles of raised roads that have been deemed as the “first freeway system in the world.” Not only does this reveal the extensive architectural capabilities of the Mayans, but it also demonstrates their ability to organize workers, planners, and architects to develop an expansive empire. In essence, without lidar sensors and a partnership with modern physics,  the remarkable advancements of the Mayans would remain unknown to the world.