id
	14583
Url
	https://chloe.cnr.it/s/BiDiAr/item/14583
Resource template
	Academic Article
Resource class
	bibo:AcademicArticle
Title
	Ancient lowland Maya complexity as revealed by airborne laser scanning of northern Guatemala
Creator
	Canuto, Marcello
	Estrada-Belli, Francesco
	Garrison, Thomas G.
	Houston, Stephen D.
	Acuña, Mary Jane
	Kováč, Milan
	Marken, Damien
	Nondédéo, Pilippe
	Auld-Thomas, Luke
	Castanet, Cyril
	Chatelain, David
	Chiriboga, Carlos R.
	Drápela, Tomáš
	Lieskovský, Tibor
	Tokovinine, Alexandre
	Velasquez, Antolin
	Fernández-Díaz, Juan Carlos
	Shrestha, Ramesh
Date
	2018
Language
	eng
Abstract
	Lidar (a type of airborne laser scanning) provides a powerful technique for three-dimensional mapping of topographic features. It is proving to be a valuable tool in archaeology, particularly where the remains of structures may be hidden beneath forest canopies. Canuto et al. present lidar data covering more than 2000 square kilometers of lowland Guatemala, which encompasses ancient settlements of the Classic Maya civilization (see the Perspective by Ford and Horn). The data yielded population estimates, measures of agricultural intensification, and evidence of investment in landscape-transforming infrastructure. The findings indicate that this Lowland Maya society was a regionally interconnected network of densely populated and defended cities, which were sustained by an array of agricultural practices that optimized land productivity and the interactions between rural and urban communities.
Is Part Of
	Science
Cited by
	13590
Doi
	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aau0137
Issue
	6409
Volume
	361
Homepage
	https://www.zotero.org/groups/5293298/bidiar/items/GDFX94JF/item-list

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