Researchers accidentally discovered an ancient megacity in a Mexican jungle

Summary

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81% Informative

A Ph.D. student discovered a Mayan megacity in Campeche , Mexico , by accident.

Luke Auld-Thomas found a laser survey done by a Mexican organization for environmental monitoring.

The survey used light detection and ranging (lidar) technology, a remote-sensing method that sends thousands of laser pulses from an aircraft to map objects buried beneath vegetation.

Lidar has uncovered a vast, interconnected network of cities, roads, and infrastructure.

VR Score

Informative language

Neutral language

Article tone

semi-formal

Language

English

Language complexity

Offensive language

not offensive

Hate speech

not hateful

Attention-grabbing headline

not detected

Known propaganda techniques

not detected

Time-value

long-living

External references

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/ancient-mesoamerica/article/lidar-analyses-in-the-contiguous-miradorcalakmul-karst-basin-guatemala-an-introduction-to-new-perspectives-on-regional-early-maya-socioeconomic-and-political-organization/31075DFA8ADBAA5E7C7320CA6DB93E5E https://www.npr.org/2023/08/01/1191071151/maya-city-ocomtun-lasers https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/exclusive-laser-scans-reveal-maya-megalopolis-below-guatemalan-jungle/7th-grade/https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/antiquity/article/running-out-of-empty-space-environmental-lidar-and-the-crowded-ancient-landscape-of-campeche-mexico/FFDB435047017853F26CFC5D8804B08D https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/maya-laser-lidar-guatemala-pacunam https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmznzkly3go https://edition.cnn.com/2023/02/16/world/maya-civilization-causeways-lidar-discovery-scn/index.html https://www.asociaciontikal.com/simposio-30-2016/080-la-produccion-e-intercambio-de-mercancias-en-el-siglo-octavo-en-las-tierras-bajas-mayas-nuevos-datos-conceptos-e-interpretaciones/https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/antropologia/article/view/35870/

Source diversity

www.cambridge.org www.npr.org education.nationalgeographic.org www.nationalgeographic.com www.bbc.com edition.cnn.com www.asociaciontikal.com revistas.ucr.ac.cr

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