Studying the 4th century in the 21st century: LiDAR in Maya archaeology

Since the turn of the millennium, lasers have been revolutionizing archaeology all over the world in the form of Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) technology. The impact is greatest in forested regions where lidar allows us to digitally deforest the landscape, revealing the footprint of ancient civilizations. Perhaps nowhere has this technology been more effective than in the Maya Lowlands of eastern Mexico and Central America where lidar shows massive urban sprawl, sophisticated agricultural systems, extensive road networks, and massive defensive works. This talk presents recent results from the Buena Vista Valley of northern Guatemala, where lidar and field research have combined to tell a story of political intrigue and warfare that unfolded in the late 4th century AD.