Modern imaging technology can reveal ancient structures and buildings that are not visible from the surface. We just saw another example of this: the discovery in a hidden neighborhood within one of the largest historical Maya cities.
Tikal is the city in question, which is now located in Guatemala. It is believed to have been the dominant settlement in the ancient Maya empire. This was especially true between 200 and 900 CE. At its peak, it could have housed as many as 90.000 people.
Researchers used LIDAR scanning equipment to find evidence of development in what was believed to be a natural zone. The hidden ruins match the architecture of Teotihuacan, a sprawling metropolis built centuries ago by an unknown culture.
These structures were found to match Teotihuacan buildings. (Thomas Garrison/Pacunam)
This could provide researchers with useful clues about how the two cities interacted. Despite being more than 1,000 km (621 miles) apart, traders were known to have traveled between the two urban centers.
Stephen Houston, an anthropologist at Brown University in Rhode Island, says that what we thought were natural hills were actually modified and conformed the form of the citadel. This area was perhaps the imperial palace at Teotihuacan.
"Regardless of the fact that this replica was built in a smaller scale and why it was done so, it is clear that there was a higher level of interaction between Tikal & Teotihuacan than we previously thought."
The surprising thing about the discovery is that Tikal was extensively explored and searched since the 1950s. It's also one of the oldest cities we know. It was hidden from public view for a portion of this entire time.
Tikal is an archaeological site that has been studied extensively around the world. (Stephen Houston).
After the scans were completed, excavations were made to confirm the presence of these buildings. The discovery of Teotihuacan-like structures opened up new possibilities. Tikal and Teotihuacan differed in many ways. Teotihuacan was larger.
Researchers suggest that the buildings could have served as a diplomatic embassy or a military outpost. It appears to have been built by Teotihuacan residents or locals.
Houston says it almost seems that Houston told local builders to use a completely non-local building technology when constructing the sprawling new complex.
"We have rarely seen any evidence of interaction between the two civilisations, but here we are looking at foreigners who are aggressively entering the area.
It was discovered that the Tikal buildings were constructed from mud plaster, rather than Maya limestone. This suggests that there may have been an attempt to make replicas. They also matched Teotihuacan’s 15.5-degree east of-north orientation.
The fact that Teotihuacan armies seized Tikal in late 4th century adds to the intrigue. Although it is clear that the relationships between these two cities were strained, it is not known what happened over the hundreds of years prior.
Another discovery was what appears to be a burial place for a Teotihuacan warlord, matching up with similar locations in Mexico's larger metropolis. This may be another clue to the interplay between these two cities.
The new study will help historians look deeper into the past. It will also allow them to examine colonialism and the impact it has on other countries. The research at Tikal is continuing.
Houston says, "Exploring Teotihuacan’s influence over Mesoamerica could help you explore the beginnings and oppressions of colonialism as well as local collusions."
Antiquity has published the research.
