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Ancient Maya Metropolis Preview
Preview: Season 48 Episode 22 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
Explore great ancient Maya cities and why their inhabitants abandoned them.
The ancient ancestors of today’s Maya people thrived in large sophisticated cities across Central America for centuries. Why, around 750 CE, did they begin to abandon many of their major cities? Archaeologists investigate dramatic new evidence of the catastrophic droughts and instability that pushed cities beyond their limits.
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.
![NOVA](https://image.pbs.org/contentchannels/iAn87U1-white-logo-41-7WCUoLi.png?format=webp&resize=200x)
Ancient Maya Metropolis Preview
Preview: Season 48 Episode 22 | 30sVideo has Closed Captions
The ancient ancestors of today’s Maya people thrived in large sophisticated cities across Central America for centuries. Why, around 750 CE, did they begin to abandon many of their major cities? Archaeologists investigate dramatic new evidence of the catastrophic droughts and instability that pushed cities beyond their limits.
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NOVA Labs
NOVA Labs is a free digital platform that engages teens and lifelong learners in games and interactives that foster authentic scientific exploration. Participants take part in real-world investigations by visualizing, analyzing, and playing with the same data that scientists use.Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipLIDAR Technology Helps Uncover a Maya Metropolis
Video has Closed Captions
Light Detection and Ranging, LIDAR, sees through the jungle to reveal what lies beneath. (3m 9s)
These Artifacts and Foods Tie Modern Maya to the Past
Video has Closed Captions
Oral tradition talks about the importance of these foods for Maya. (4m 4s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipNational Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.