Archaeology Laser scanning reveals 'lost' ancient Mexican city had as many buildings as Manhattan Groundbreaking lidar scanning reveals the true scale of Angamuco, built by the Purépecha from about 900AD One of Angamuco’s ‘neighbourhoods’, revealed using light detection and ranging scanning. The approach, known as light detection and ranging scanning (lidar) involves directing a rapid succession of laser pulses at the ground from an aircraft. The city of Angamuco, which occupies a lava field on the eastern edge of the Lake Pátzcuaro basin. “[Its size] would make it the biggest city that we know of right now in western Mexico during this period,” said Fisher. However, previous coverage of the work has proved controversial, with some saying claims of a “lost city” smack of colonialist rhetoric.

Source: The Guardian February 15, 2018 16:00 UTC