New LiDAR data from the dense jungles of the Chiapas Highlands has revealed a sprawling network of 'hummingbird-aligned' ritual pavements. These stone causeways were constructed by the ancient Maya to align with the sun's position during the spring equinox. At the center of the complex lies a massive circular platform decorated with polychrome stucco masks representing the sun deity and various avian spirits.
The site appears to have served as a regional hub for the 'Festival of the Rising Sun', a time when Maya communities gathered for sound-driven ceremonies and sacrificial offerings to ensure rain for the planting season. The precise solar alignment of the pavements suggests that the Maya used these architectural features as giant sundials to time the exact moment for the start of the year's most important agricultural celebrations.