Archaeologists have discovered a vast network of cities in a remote jungle. This vast network is made up of the 417 ancient Mayan cities in Guatemala. The researchers said that these cities are roughly 3,000 years old. This incredible discovery is currently making historians rethink their knowledge about the ancient Mayan civilization. These cities, found in the remote jungle, are interconnected by miles of highways.
Archaeologists Discover 417 Ancient Mayan Cities
Research from a joint US-Guatemalan archaeological study is published in the Cambridge University Press. They spoke about how the discovery of 417 Mayan cities has raised many questions.
It is possible that settlements in Central America were more developed than previously thought based on the discovery of a network of highways, cities, hydraulic systems, and agricultural infrastructure.
The Mayans, who were formerly thought of as a nomadic, hunter-gatherer culture, lived in the pre-classic era, which dates back to 1,000 B.C., during which time the lost world first appeared. The cities were connected by roadways, which one archaeologist described as “the first highway system in the world.”
The ancient Mayan city of Calakmul surrounded by the jungle – this is an aerial view of the pyramid, Calakmul, Campeche, Mexico. pic.twitter.com/mVLBZlFkTi
— Karim Wafa Al-Hussaini (@DrKarimWafa) May 14, 2023
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World’s First Roadway Network
This finding may be the world’s first roadway network, connecting 417 previously undiscovered cities that have been kept secret for centuries by the thick jungles of northern Guatemala and southern Mexico.
The majority of the recently discovered structures were all constructed hundreds of years before the largest Maya city-states appeared, bringing significant advances in mathematics and writing.
Since 2015, the team has been mapping the regions of Central America using lidar technology, a crucial archaeological laser mapping technique, to show the smallest features, such as old vegetation. The team includes scientists from the US and Guatemala.
According to the study, it gave scientists access to views of ancient dams, reservoirs, pyramids, platforms, causeway networks, and even ball courts. (as per Business Insider)
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