An international archaeological team using specialized surveying drones has discovered over 1,000 previously unknown Mayan structures hidden beneath the dense rainforest canopy in Guatemala's Petén region. The drones, equipped with penetrating LiDAR sensors, mapped 2,100 square kilometers in just three weeks — a task that would have taken decades using ground-based methods.
The survey revealed interconnected urban centers, ceremonial complexes, agricultural terraces, and an extensive road network suggesting a population far larger than previous estimates. Researchers believe the findings could rewrite understanding of Mayan civilization's scale and sophistication.
The drone surveying technology used combines RTK GPS positioning with multi-spectral imaging, achieving ground resolution of 5 centimeters per pixel even through triple-canopy forest. Several universities are now establishing dedicated drone archaeology programs in response to these discoveries.