A groundbreaking LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) survey over the dense jungles of northern Guatemala has identified a sprawling industrial complex dedicated to salt production. Spanning several square kilometers, the site features thousands of organized brine-evaporation tanks and specialized furnace structures used to boil down saline water harvested from nearby subterranean springs.
The mapping reveals an intricate network of paved causeways connecting the refining hub to major Maya urban centers like Tikal and Calakmul. Researchers believe this 'Salt Megalopolis' operated as a regional monopoly, controlling one of the most vital commodities in the ancient world. The scale of the infrastructure suggests that salt production was not a seasonal activity but a permanent, state-managed industry that supported the high population density of the Late Classic period.