LiDAR analyses in the contiguous Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin, Guatemala: an introduction to new perspectives on regional early Maya socioeconomic and political organization

A groundbreaking LiDAR analysis of the Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin (MCKB) in northern Guatemala has revealed a vast network of Preclassic Maya settlements, connected by 177 km of elevated causeways. The study identified over 775 ancient Maya sites within the MCKB and an additional 189 in the surrounding karstic ridge, condensed into 417 cities, towns, and villages across six preliminary tiers based on size and architectural complexity. Many of these sites date to the Middle and Late Preclassic periods (ca. 1000 BCE–AD 150), suggesting sophisticated centralized administrative and socio-economic strategies in early Maya societies. The presence of monumental architecture, consistent construction formats, water management systems, and extensive causeways indicates significant labor investments and governance capabilities that challenge previous understandings of Preclassic Maya political organization.

Hansen, R. D., Morales-Aguilar, C., Thompson, J., Ensley, R., Hernández, E., Schreiner, T., Suyuc-Ley, E., & Martínez, G. (2022). LiDAR analyses in the contiguous Mirador-Calakmul Karst Basin, Guatemala: an introduction to new perspectives on regional early Maya socioeconomic and political organization. Ancient Mesoamerica, 34(3), 587–626. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0956536122000244