Maya civilization had 16 million people at peak, new study finds — twice the population of modern-day NYC

Maya Civilization Was Home to 16 Million at Its Peak, Research Shows

Researchers say the Maya civilization peaked at 16 million. Credit: Mundo Maya / CC BY-SA 4.0 New research suggests the Maya civilization may have peaked at a population of 16 million, far surpassing earlier estimates and shedding light on a society that was far more complex and interconnected than once believed. The findings, published July 7 in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, revise a 2018 estimate that placed the Maya populati…

Maya civilization had 16 million people at peak, new study finds — twice the population of modern-day NYC

After using lasers to map the Maya Lowlands, researchers have updated their estimates of the total Maya population during the Late Classic Period (A.D. 600 to 900).

Ancient Maya population may have topped 16 million at peak, new lidar study reveals

A sweeping new research study has shifted our image of the Maya civilization of the ancient past, and it appears that its population during the Late Classic period (CE 600–900) might have reached as high as 16 million people, roughly 45% higher than previous estimates. The research, led by Tulane University’s Middle American Research Institute […]