A high-resolution LiDAR survey of the El Mirador region in Guatemala has identified a previously unknown fortified military complex spanning several acres. The imagery reveals a dense cluster of specialized workshops dedicated to the mass production of obsidian blades and atlatl points, alongside a barracks for elite warriors. Researchers believe this 'arsenal' served as the central armory for a regional defensive network during the peak of the Classic Maya period.
The scale of the facility suggests that weapon production was a state-controlled monopoly, with hundreds of thousands of obsidian fragments found scattered near the smelting pits and polishing stations. The discovery of this military mega-hub challenges previous assumptions about the decentralized nature of Maya warfare and provides evidence for a highly sophisticated and centralized command structure during times of conflict.