Archaeology & History

Long-lost 18km Maya road discovered beneath the jungles of Mexico

By T.K. Randall
December 6, 2023 ·  0 comments

The Governor's Palace ruins in Uxmal. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Mesoamerican Dating back as far as 700 AD, this major highway through the Puuc region of Mexico in the state of Yucatan once connected the thriving Maya cities of Uxmal and Kabah.

It is believed that the road was in use for at least 250 years until around 950 AD.

It was discovered by archaeologists at Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) who used LiDAR-equipped drones to scan some 470 acres of the jungle.LiDAR, which is similar to radar but uses lasers as oppose to radio waves, has long proven an effective tool for locating evidence of long-lost structures because it can help identify signs of ancient buildings, roads and earthworks present underneath trees and undergrowth.

The new find is particularly fascinating because little was known about the road connecting the two cities and it was also thought to be part of a much larger network of paths and roads.

The cities of Uxmal and Kabah, meanwhile, have themselves offered up a treasure trove of archaeological evidence over the years and remain important destinations for both tourists and archaeologists alike.


Source: IFL Science | Comments (0)

Tags: Maya