Advanced LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) surveys in the dense jungles of northern Colombia have identified a sprawling urban complex belonging to the Tairona civilization. Spanning over 500 acres at an elevation of 2,500 meters, the site features a massive industrial sector dedicated to high-altitude gold refining, including terraced smelting platforms and stone-lined water conduits for hydraulic ore processing.
The mapping reveals a sophisticated grid of star-shaped residential plazas connected by paved stairways that remain remarkably intact beneath the canopy. Archaeologists believe this 'Gold City' served as the primary metallurgical hub for the Tairona, supplying ceremonial artifacts and trade goods to coastal regions via an extensive mountain road network.