Category: Amazing Temples English

Detail of Valeriana site core, in the north-east corner of Block 2 - Figure 4 from Auld-Thomas et al. 2024, Antiquity 98(401): 1340-58, CC BY 4.0 0

Valeriana Revealed: 6,500 Hidden Maya Structures Change History

It was after midnight when doctoral student Luke Auld-Thomas stumbled upon a forgotten 2013 LiDAR scan of southern Campeche. Stripping away the jungle canopy on his laptop, he watched 6,500 ghost-white structures surface across nearly 50 square miles—a metropolis later christened Valeriana, hiding in plain sight beside Highway 261. Follow Auld-Thomas’s “Google-Earth moment” as archival laser data rewrites Maya geography, reveals twin monumental precincts, a dammed reservoir and population estimates of 30–50 thousand—rivaling Calakmul. Paired with the deep-jungle find of Ocomtún, the discovery proves LiDAR can unveil both highway-adjacent megacities and wilderness strongholds. Dive in to see how ancient urban engineering is inspiring today’s climate-resilient design—and why ethical tourism matters more than ever.

Zoomorph B. Dedicated by Cauac Sky on 9.17.10.0.0, 12 Ahau 8 Pax (30th November 780AD), Zoomorph B appears to be part of a trinity of stones that relate to the Creation Myth 0

Quiriguá – Where Stone Giants Tell of Revolution

Quiriguá – The Small Maya Center with the Largest Stelae in Mesoamerica.
In a historic coup, the city broke away from Copán in AD 738, beheaded its king—and ushered in its own era of monumental art. Today, Quiriguá impresses with unique zoomorphs and digitally documented inscriptions. Perfect for travelers and Maya enthusiasts.

Macaw skull at the ballcourt 0

Copán – 400 Years of Dynasty, 2,200 Glyphs, and Cutting-Edge Research

Copán, once a vibrant center of the Classic Maya world, offers visitors a unique journey through 400 years of dynastic history, 2,200 intricately carved glyphs, and groundbreaking modern archaeological research. Discover its dramatic past—from royal rivalries and monumental architecture to high-tech investigations reshaping our understanding of Maya civilization.

https://noticias.mcd.gob.gt/2025/05/30/ciudades-mayas-de-mas-de-dos-mil-anos-de-antiguedad-revelan-sus-secretos/ 0

Los Abuelos – a 3,000-year-old Maya city emerges from the jungle

Hidden for 3,000 years beneath Guatemala’s Petén canopy, the newly revealed Los Abuelos Maya city—part of a perfect triangular network with Petnal and Cambrayal—boasts grand-parent statues, a solar-aligned “Group E” observatory and jungle canals. Discover what the find means for Maya history—and how adventurous travellers can explore the region.