Sprawling Maya network discovered

[Tim]

Link to the story on the BBC website http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-42916261

I found these snippets of interest as a SOA member.

'the Lidar survey revealed kilometres of fortification wall ... never noticed before... The archaeologists were struck by the "incredible defensive features", which included walls, fortresses and moats.  They showed that the Maya invested more resources into defending themselves than previously thought...'

and

"We'll need 100 years to go through all [the data] and really understand what we're seeing."

(So not in time for the next army list revisions then...)

The project's discoveries will feature in a (UK) Channel 4 programme called Lost Cities of the Maya: Revealed, airing in the UK on Sunday 11 February at 20:00 GMT.

[Patrick Waterson]

Apparently Maya population estimates are being revised upward; ten million is the latest figure.

This does at least mean we can with a clear conscience fight some pretty large Mesoamerican battles.

Thanks, Tim.