Technology Helps Archaeologists Discover Thousands of Ancient Structures Hidden in Guatemalan Jungles
We've written about how a high-tech device known as lidar has helped archaeologists locate lost cities and other ancient structures in the past, but those findings were small potatoes compared to what is going on in the jungles of Guatemala at the moment. A team of researchers say that the laser-powered technology has helped them conduct the largest survey of the region ever, and what they found is simply stunning. Lidar is typically mounted on an aircraft and uses lasers to map the surface of the planet from above. Those lasers can actually penetrate the thick jungle canopy to see what sits underneath, giving researchers a better understanding of what man-made structures may be lurking there covered by hundreds �� or even thousands �� of years of growth. According to a new study published in Science magazine , a recent research survey completed in Guatemala was the largest use of lidar ever. When the survey was completed, archaeologists had mapped 61,480 distinct structures unde...