A lost Mayan city, named Valeriana, has been accidentally discovered in the Mexican jungle by a Tulane University student using LiDAR technology, which utilizes lasers to map archaeological landscapes. The city, estimated to have housed 30,000 to 50,000 people, features intricate structures including pyramids and plazas. This finding signals a shift in understanding Mayan civilization, revealing an interconnected network of urban and rural areas rather than isolated city-states. The study emphasizes LiDAR’s transformative role in archaeological research, offering new insights into ancient urban planning and environmental adaptation.