Advanced laser surveys have identified a sprawling urban grid hidden beneath the dense canopy of the Western Colombian Andes. Attributed to the Calima culture, the network includes over 3,000 circular house platforms connected by a sophisticated system of raised causeways and agricultural terraces that span several valleys.
The data reveals a previously unknown gold-working district at the city's core, featuring large workshop platforms. Archaeologists believe this metropolis served as a major regional power center, controlling the flow of gold and emeralds between the high mountains and the Pacific coast during the Classic Period of Colombian pre-history.