Advanced airborne LiDAR surveys have identified a sprawling urban grid deep within the Jambi province of Sumatra. The site, spanning over 500 hectares, consists of elevated brick platforms, complex canal systems, and dozens of massive storehouses once used to hold maritime salt. Researchers believe this Lost City served as the primary inland distribution center for the Srivijaya Empire, regulating the flow of essential preservatives between coastal ports and the highland kingdoms.
The mapping reveals a highly organized city layout with a central ritual plaza and defensive embankments designed to withstand the region's seasonal flooding. This discovery provides a new perspective on the economic reach of the Srivijaya Empire, showing it was not just a maritime power but possessed a sophisticated inland logistical network that integrated the island's interior into the global spice trade.