Archaeological survey methods have been transformed

Position 1: These discoveries suggest that ancient urban populations were considerably larger and more interconnected than earlier excavation-based estimates had indicated.

Position 2: LiDAR, in particular, works by emitting laser pulses from aircraft and measuring the time taken for reflections to return from the surface.

Position 3: Its application in the Guatemalan jungle, for instance, uncovered thousands of previously unknown Maya structures hidden for centuries.

Position 4: Archaeological survey methods have been transformed by the widespread adoption of ground-penetrating radar and LiDAR remote sensing.

Position 5: This technique can strip away dense vegetation digitally, revealing buried features such as roads, walls, and building foundations beneath forest canopies.