Arqueólogos descubrieron por accidente una gran ciudad maya oculta por la vegetación
Archaeologists discovered more than 6,600 Mayan structures, including the city of Valeriana, by analyzing previously published LIDAR data available online. This information, originally collected by environmental scientists to measure carbon stocks in forests, was repurposed by the research team to reveal a dense ancient urban landscape hidden beneath tropical vegetation. This finding demonstrates how repurposing data for non-original objectives can generate significant advances in disciplines other than those for which the data were initially created. The study reveals that the Mayan civilization developed complex, densely populated settlements that coexist closely with modern communities, challenging previous notions about the dispersal of these historical groups. The scale of these discoveries indicates that many ruins remain hidden not due to a lack of physical presence, but rather due to limited access to data that is already available. This underscores the critical importance of maintaining accessibility and transparency in the publication of geospatial and scientific datasets. The relevance of this article to the field of open data lies in its practical demonstration of the multiplier value of open data. By making the results of ecological studies publicly available, a new window of opportunity was opened for archaeology, enabling discoveries that would otherwise have remained invisible. This case exemplifies how interdisciplinary collaboration driven by accessible data can maximize the social and scientific impact of information, fostering a knowledge ecosystem where data reuse accelerates progress across various fields of study.
Source: cooperativa.clPublished on 2024-10-30