Using high-resolution LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), an international team of archaeologists has mapped a sprawling, previously unknown Maya urban center situated at an altitude of over 3,000 meters. Named K’axob’ Te’, or the 'Sentinel City of the Clouds,' this fortified outpost features massive defensive masonry walls and a series of watchtowers that overlook the surrounding valleys of the Guatemalan Highlands.
The discovery challenges traditional views that major Maya urbanism was restricted to the lowlands. The site includes a central ceremonial plaza and over 400 residential structures, suggesting it was a permanent and highly populated military stronghold. The findings indicate that the Maya civilization maintained a sophisticated high-altitude logistics and defense network to control vital trade routes for obsidian and quetzal feathers.