DOI: 10.5061/dryad.k51j708
title: Data from: Ancient lowland Maya complexity as revealed by airborne laser scanning of northern Guatemala

description: Lowland Maya civilization flourished in the tropical region of the Yucatan
 peninsula and environs for more than 2500 years (~1000 BCE to 1500 CE).
 Known for its sophistication in writing, art, architecture, astronomy, and
 mathematics, Maya civilization still poses questions about the nature of
 its cities and surrounding populations because of its location in an
 inaccessible forest. In 2016, an aerial lidar survey across 2144 square
 kilometers of northern Guatemala mapped natural terrain and archaeological
 features over several distinct areas. We present results from these data,
 revealing interconnected urban settlement and landscapes with extensive
 infrastructural development. Studied through a joint international effort
 of interdisciplinary teams sharing protocols, this lidar survey compels a
 reevaluation of Maya demography, agriculture, and political economy and
 suggests future avenues of field research.
description: PLI_Phase_1_survey_blocksSurvey blocks mapped in PLI Phase 1 (2016). Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfilePLI_polygons_noholes.zipPLI_Phase_1_pre/post-lidar ground coverageAll areas surveyed prior to PLI Phase 1 and all areas verified after PLI Phase 1. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfilePLI ground replication.zipPLI_Phase_1_built_defensesAll identified built defensive features within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileBuilt_defense_xy.zipPLI_Phase_1_natural_defensesAll identified natural defensive features within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileNatural_defense_xy.zipPLI_Phase_1_defended_areasAll identified defended areas within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileDefended_areas.zipPLI_Phase_1_all_causewaysAll identified causeways within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileAll_causeways_xy.zipPLI_Phase_1_reservoir_volumesTotal volume of identified reservoirs within PLI Phase 1 dataset, separated by survey block. Format: Excel fileReservoirs_combined_v3.xlsxPLI_Phase_1_upland_field_zonesAll identified upland field zones within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileAll_upland_field_zones.zipPLI_Phase_1_wetland_field_zonesAll identified wetland field zones within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileAll_wetland_field_zones.zipPLI_Phase_1_wetland_&_upland_field_zonesAll identified wetland & upland field zones within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfileAll_wet_upland_field_zones.zipPLI_Phase_1_upland_agro_feature_densityDensity (per 1 sq. km) of upland agricultural features within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked TIFF fileMaster_point_desity_1sqkm_4_classes_upland_zones1.zipPLI_Phase_1_wetland_agro_feature_densityDensity (per 1 sq. km) of wetland agricultural features within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked TIFF fileMaster_point_density_1sqkm_4_classes_wetland_zones1.zipPLI_Phase_1_structuresAll identified structures within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked ESRI shpfilePLI_2017_master_strs_v2_xy2.zipPLI_Phase_1_structure_densityDensity (per 1 sq. km) of structures within PLI Phase 1 dataset. Format: ZIP file containing geo-masked TIFF fileMaster_point_density_1sqkm_4_classes1.zip