Luke Caverns

are completely covered up by the jungle. The evidence of it isn't even there until you clear the trees away and then you have people who are studying archaeoastronomy, which is really still kind of in its infancy.

are completely covered up by the jungle. The evidence of it isn't even there until you clear the trees away and then you have people who are studying archaeoastronomy, which is really still kind of in its infancy.

are completely covered up by the jungle. The evidence of it isn't even there until you clear the trees away and then you have people who are studying archaeoastronomy, which is really still kind of in its infancy.

And, you know, just studying the way that ancient cultures really studied their astronomical world. So much of this couldn't even be observed. Like when I was at this city that was near Calakmul, El Ramonal, which is a pre-classic site, it's impossible to... Without modern day technology, without clearing away all the trees, it would be impossible to actually identify any alignments.

And, you know, just studying the way that ancient cultures really studied their astronomical world. So much of this couldn't even be observed. Like when I was at this city that was near Calakmul, El Ramonal, which is a pre-classic site, it's impossible to... Without modern day technology, without clearing away all the trees, it would be impossible to actually identify any alignments.

And, you know, just studying the way that ancient cultures really studied their astronomical world. So much of this couldn't even be observed. Like when I was at this city that was near Calakmul, El Ramonal, which is a pre-classic site, it's impossible to... Without modern day technology, without clearing away all the trees, it would be impossible to actually identify any alignments.

That's kind of what most of my career has been. Getting up on one of these buildings and scanning the entire thing for even one line of stones that I felt was intact. If I could get just one line of stones, I could guess at the alignment. But as you say, a lot of them, I got no stones.

That's kind of what most of my career has been. Getting up on one of these buildings and scanning the entire thing for even one line of stones that I felt was intact. If I could get just one line of stones, I could guess at the alignment. But as you say, a lot of them, I got no stones.

That's kind of what most of my career has been. Getting up on one of these buildings and scanning the entire thing for even one line of stones that I felt was intact. If I could get just one line of stones, I could guess at the alignment. But as you say, a lot of them, I got no stones.

Yeah. And in ancient times, you know, when these cities were at their peak, they're at least, you know, we think that most of these large cities, there are no trees that are growing in the middle of the city. They're clearing all of it down. I mean, they use the wood for everything from construction to stucco. And yeah.

Yeah. And in ancient times, you know, when these cities were at their peak, they're at least, you know, we think that most of these large cities, there are no trees that are growing in the middle of the city. They're clearing all of it down. I mean, they use the wood for everything from construction to stucco. And yeah.

Yeah. And in ancient times, you know, when these cities were at their peak, they're at least, you know, we think that most of these large cities, there are no trees that are growing in the middle of the city. They're clearing all of it down. I mean, they use the wood for everything from construction to stucco. And yeah.

Even in Honduras at Copan, their city began to fall apart because they had no trees left.

Even in Honduras at Copan, their city began to fall apart because they had no trees left.

Even in Honduras at Copan, their city began to fall apart because they had no trees left.

Changed the weather pattern. No more trees, no more water dropped on their crops.

Changed the weather pattern. No more trees, no more water dropped on their crops.

Changed the weather pattern. No more trees, no more water dropped on their crops.

Yeah, and so at El Mirador, El Mirador is one of the first cities of the ancient Maya world. You have Nakbe, and then I think Nakbe gets so big that they eventually move over to El Mirador and build another city. So you got to think, you know, these tropical areas that are, or these, you know, jungle areas are constantly getting so much rain. They flood very easily.

Yeah, and so at El Mirador, El Mirador is one of the first cities of the ancient Maya world. You have Nakbe, and then I think Nakbe gets so big that they eventually move over to El Mirador and build another city. So you got to think, you know, these tropical areas that are, or these, you know, jungle areas are constantly getting so much rain. They flood very easily.