Holtun, or Head of Stone, lay hidden under the thick Guatemalan rain forest. However, in 2010, using GPS and electronic distance-measurement technology, researchers were able to plot out the locations and elevations of a seven-story-tall pyramid, an observatory, a ritual ball court and even houses.
Archaeologists had always known that the city was there, but they hadn’t been able to really explore until they were able to use this technology. They’re excited to find Holtun, because it’s not a big metropolitan area, but rather a small city.
Why are they excited for that? Well, they hope to learn what every day life was for people who weren’t part of the larger metropolitan areas such as Tikal, something that hasn’t been explore much until now. Learn more about Holtun city by clicking the source.