Mayan 2000-year-old highway system

Archaeologists discovered the Maya's 2,000-year-old, 240-year-old highway system in the ancient city of El Mirador, Guatemala.

The research team of the Mirador Basin archaeological project discovered the 2000-year-old highway system , which stretches for 240km of Mayans in the ancient city of El Mirador, in the Mirador Basin, Guatemala area, Ancient Origins on January 12 believe.

The Mayan 2000-year-old highway system in Guatemala.(Photo: Archaeological Project Cuenca Mirador).

El Mirador , located under the Peten rainforest, north of Guatemala, is the largest city of 2,158km ² Mayans and a population of about one million. There are the largest pyramids ever discovered in Central America.

With laser topographic mapping technology (LIDAR), the team can map 3D in the Mirador Basin area without being obscured by dense forests. They found hidden under canopy of canals, animal traps, pyramids, dykes, terraces and large road networks. This is the first highway system in the world and is mainly used to transport goods.

In addition, the team identified complex animal traps here created by El Mirador city residents. It proves that meat production in Basin Mirador has reached industrial scale.

The discovery of an ancient road system will provide more research sites for scientists. From there, they can shed light on the decaying cause of the Mayan civilization in Mirador Basin around 150.