A comprehensive LiDAR survey of the Chiquibul Forest in Belize has identified a series of fortified hilltop towers that served as a long-distance signaling network for the late Classic Maya. These structures were strategically positioned to allow for rapid communication via smoke or reflected light between major urban centers like Caracol and Tikal.
The layout of the signal array also appears to be precisely aligned with the constellation of Orion, suggesting the towers served a dual purpose as high-altitude astronomical observation points. This discovery offers new evidence of the highly integrated defensive and scientific infrastructure maintained by Maya polities during a period of increasing regional competition and environmental stress.