The Mirador Basin
Case Study

Nestled in the rainforest of Northern Petén, Guatemala, and Southern Campeche, Mexico, is the Mirador-Calakmul Basin; a geological depression that spreads across 1.6 million acres of pristine tropical forest that includes a variety of flora and fauna, and contributes to the biodiversity of the region because of the six types of tropical forests found within the system. Called the ‘Cradle of Maya Civilization’, the Basin contains pre-Hispanic Mayan cities interconnected by the first superhighway in the world, that have been mapped by LIDAR technology. If this is not extraordinary enough, the Mirador-Calakmul Basin is also home to the Pyramid of La Danta, which is possibly the world’s largest ancient structure by volume. Over the past two decades, archeologists such as Dr. Richard Hansen, have dedicated themselves to studying this incredible ancient site, unfolding a story of humanity that has never been told before.

The discovery of a lifetime

Having dedicated his life to the discovery, testing, and conservation of the the treasures found in this reserve, Dr. Richard Hansen’s lifework, along with that of his colleagues, led to the incredible discovery of 417 cities buried beneath the jungle, dating back to 1000 B.C., interconnected with nearly 110 miles of primitive ‘superhighways’. This extensive network of roads and cities, accompanied by intricate ceremonial complexes, hydraulic systems, and agricultural infrastructure, indicates a civilization much more advanced than initially believed. A finding archaeologists predict could potentially rival the significance of the Great Pyramid of Giza in terms of its importance to human history, according to The Washington Post.