RSSSpace Technology Revolutionizes Archaeology, Understanding of Maya
May 11
Maya, Mesoamerica, North America, Tech No Comments
Laser beams penetrating thick canopy detect thousands of new structures, show Maya adept at ‘building green’
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  IMAGE: University of Central Florida researchers led a NASA-funded research project in April 2009 that collected the equivalent of 25 years worth of data in four days. Aboard a Cessna 337,…
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A flyover of Belize’s thick jungles has revolutionized archaeology worldwide and vividly illustrated the complex urban centers developed by one of the most-studied ancient civilizations — the Maya.
University of Central Florida researchers led a NASA-funded research project in April 2009 that collected the equivalent of 25 years worth of data in four days.
Aboard a Cessna 337, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) equipment bounced laser beams to sensors on the ground, penetrating the thick tree canopy and producing images of the ancient settlement and environmental modifications made by the inhabitants of the Maya city of Caracol within 200 square kilometers (77 square miles).
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-05/uocf-str051110.php