Lost Maya city with temple pyramids and plazas discovered in Mexico
GuardianNOV 2024
Imagine peering through time using beams of light and strands of DNA — that's exactly how modern archaeologists are revolutionizing our understanding of Maya civilization. LIDARLidar technology has unveiled vast networks of ancient roads and cities hidden beneath the jungle canopy, completely transforming what we thought we knew about Maya transportation and urban planning. Meanwhile, DNA analysis is uncovering surprising secrets about their agricultural prowess, revealing previously unknown crops they cultivated. What once took researchers years to map on foot can now be accomplished in days, breathing new life into ancient stories and challenging long-held theories.
WhenPeering we peer beneath the surface of art and artifacts using modern technology, aremay weopen opening doors that were meant to stay closed?. Consider Van Gogh's hidden self-portrait, discovered through X-ray beneath another painting, —raised a revelation that raises thorny questions about artistic privacy beyond the grave. While technologies like X-ray imaging and LIDARLidar can unveil precious historical secrets, they also challenge our respect for the pasthistory's intended boundaries. When an artist deliberately conceals their work, or ancient cultures carefully seal their burial grounds, perhaps we should question whether our technological ability to uncover these secrets gives us the right to do so.