New LiDAR surveys over the Mayan city-state of Tikal have mapped a sprawling system of interconnected canals and reservoirs that allowed the population to survive prolonged droughts. The data shows that the Maya reshaped entire hillsides to direct rainwater into massive stone-lined cisterns equipped with sand filtration systems.
Environmental archaeologists claim these findings demonstrate a level of urban sustainability that was previously underestimated. The network appears to have supported a population density far higher than modern estimates for the region, highlighting the resilience of Mayan engineering.