A high-resolution LiDAR survey over the Peten jungle in Guatemala has identified a 150-mile network of elevated limestone roads, known as sakbes, connecting several previously unknown Maya settlements. These roads, some over 20 meters wide, suggest a highly integrated regional economy.
The mapping also revealed thousands of hidden agricultural terraces and defensive walls, challenging the view that ancient Maya cities were isolated forest enclaves. Instead, the data points to a continuous urban-rural sprawl with sophisticated land management systems.