Spotting ruins with Google Earth
The Tell-Tale Signs of Ancient Ruins
Most of these images are Google Earth's highest resolution, though they remain somewhat blurry. Despite not being perfectly high resolution, the features are still sufficiently discernible for both viewing and AI analysis.
I contacted several providers attempting to purchase high-resolution images of the area, but the commercially available resolution was either the same or worse than what Google Earth provides.
Analyzing satellite imagery of the Amazon to identify potential ruins, there are several ways that foliage patterns can provide clues:
- Linear or geometric patterns: Ancient structures, roads, or agricultural fields may cause vegetation to grow in straight lines or geometric shapes that stand out from the natural, more irregular growth patterns of the surrounding jungle.
- Differences in vegetation color: Ruins can affect soil composition and moisture retention, leading to variations in plant health and species. This may appear as patches of distinct coloration in the canopy.
- Shadows: Elevated structures, even when overgrown, can cast shadows that are visible in satellite imagery, especially when the sun is at a low angle.
- Texture variations: Collapsed structures or areas of previous human occupation may have different soil composition and drainage, affecting the texture and density of the vegetation growing above them.
- Mounds or raised areas: Earthworks, mounds, or collapsed buildings may create subtle topographic variations that influence vegetation growth and appearance.
- Depressions or voids: Conversely, some ruins, such as sunken plazas or reservoirs, can appear as depressions or areas with sparser vegetation.
- Persistent vegetation patterns: Certain plants, such as certain types of trees (see pic 48), may grow in consistent patterns and vegetation over ruins due to the underlying archaeological features.
For reference and to compare known semi developed jungle ruins to these possible ruins.
El Mirador in Guatemala
You see similarities in the Mexico, Guatemala & Brazil sites as far as lines, angles, voids, shadows etc.
Here is what you can't see in satellite images in Calakmul but can with LiDAR.
Here also is LiDAR from Mirador, and wow does the jungle hide things. Imagine what could be hiding under this site's foliage.
Click on the images to go to the locations in Google Earth. You can fly around, zoom in, etc. For some locations, you may need to move upward a little because they are in 3D and may not be centered in the links.
Is it a site?
1A. THE 1ST FEATURE FOUND AT THE SITE
2A. TRIANGULAR SHADOWS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUN IN SAT IMAGERY IS A TELL
2A. TRIANGULAR SHADOWS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUN IN SAT IMAGERY IS A TELL
2A. TRIANGULAR SHADOWS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUN IN SAT IMAGERY IS A TELL
2A. TRIANGULAR SHADOWS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUN IN SAT IMAGERY IS A TELL
2A. TRIANGULAR SHADOWS ON OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE SUN IN SAT IMAGERY IS A TELL
3A. LOOKS LIKE ARCHITECTURE. Right side has a 106' straight line extending downward
3A. LOOKS LIKE ARCHITECTURE. Right side has a 106' straight line extending downward
3A. LOOKS LIKE ARCHITECTURE. Right side has a 106' straight line extending downward
4A. IS THIS A 50' WIDE SET OF STAIRS
3A. LOOKS LIKE ARCHITECTURE. Right side has a 106' straight line extending downward
3A. LOOKS LIKE ARCHITECTURE. Right side has a 106' straight line extending downward
1B
3B. ZOOM IN. PYRAMID, NOTE THE STAIRS & NUB
2B. DOES NOT LOOK NATURAL
2B. DOES NOT LOOK NATURAL
3B. ZOOM IN. PYRAMID, NOTE THE STAIRS & NUB
2B. DOES NOT LOOK NATURAL
3B. ZOOM IN. PYRAMID, NOTE THE STAIRS & NUB
3B. ZOOM IN. PYRAMID, NOTE THE STAIRS & NUB
4B Fly around this area & zoom in where you see the reddish voids, lots of potential ruins
4B Fly around this area & zoom in where you see the reddish voids, lots of potential ruins
4B Fly around this area & zoom in where you see the reddish voids, lots of potential ruins
4B Fly around this area & zoom in where you see the reddish voids, lots of potential ruins
5. Good example of a cluster of possible ruins
4B Fly around this area & zoom in where you see the reddish voids, lots of potential ruins
5. Good example of a cluster of possible ruins
6. ROOFTOP
4B Fly around this area & zoom in where you see the reddish voids, lots of potential ruins
5. Good example of a cluster of possible ruins
7 GOLD FEATURE WITH HINTS OF ARCHITECTURE AROUND IT
7 GOLD FEATURE WITH HINTS OF ARCHITECTURE AROUND IT
7 GOLD FEATURE WITH HINTS OF ARCHITECTURE AROUND IT
8. TRUNCATED PYRAMID
7 GOLD FEATURE WITH HINTS OF ARCHITECTURE AROUND IT
7 GOLD FEATURE WITH HINTS OF ARCHITECTURE AROUND IT
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7 GOLD FEATURE WITH HINTS OF ARCHITECTURE AROUND IT
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11 . Fly around this area zoom in on reddish voids. Lots of geometric shapes
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11 . Fly around this area zoom in on reddish voids. Lots of geometric shapes
11 . Fly around this area zoom in on reddish voids. Lots of geometric shapes
11 . Fly around this area zoom in on reddish voids. Lots of geometric shapes
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11 . Fly around this area zoom in on reddish voids. Lots of geometric shapes
11 . Fly around this area zoom in on reddish voids. Lots of geometric shapes
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16. LOTS OF RIGHT ANGLES & ARCHITECTUAL LINES, ALL ABOVE TREE CANOPY
16. LOTS OF RIGHT ANGLES & ARCHITECTUAL LINES, ALL ABOVE TREE CANOPY
16. LOTS OF RIGHT ANGLES & ARCHITECTUAL LINES, ALL ABOVE TREE CANOPY
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18. COMPOUND WITH ARCHES. LOOKS LIKE STEPS 11:00 FROM ARCH
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22. ARE THESE RAISED GARDEN MOUNDS?
22. ARE THESE RAISED GARDEN MOUNDS?
22. ARE THESE RAISED GARDEN MOUNDS?
22. ARE THESE RAISED GARDEN MOUNDS?
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22. ARE THESE RAISED GARDEN MOUNDS?
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22. ARE THESE RAISED GARDEN MOUNDS?
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29. LARGE RIGHT ANGLE STARTING FROM PYRAMID, CORNER IS IN RIVER
29. LARGE RIGHT ANGLE STARTING FROM PYRAMID, CORNER IS IN RIVER
29. LARGE RIGHT ANGLE STARTING FROM PYRAMID, CORNER IS IN RIVER
29. LARGE RIGHT ANGLE STARTING FROM PYRAMID, CORNER IS IN RIVER
29. LARGE RIGHT ANGLE STARTING FROM PYRAMID, CORNER IS IN RIVER
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29. LARGE RIGHT ANGLE STARTING FROM PYRAMID, CORNER IS IN RIVER
31. ZOOM IN ON GOOGLE EARTH AND YOU SEE THE DISTINCT SHAPE
31. ZOOM IN ON GOOGLE EARTH AND YOU SEE THE DISTINCT SHAPE
31. ZOOM IN ON GOOGLE EARTH AND YOU SEE THE DISTINCT SHAPE
32 THIS IS NEAR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PLAZA NEAR THE FIRST FIND
32 THIS IS NEAR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PLAZA NEAR THE FIRST FIND
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32 THIS IS NEAR WHAT APPEARS TO BE A PLAZA NEAR THE FIRST FIND
34.ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AMONGST THE GOLD? Yellow glazed tiles? Dead tree?
34.ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AMONGST THE GOLD? Yellow glazed tiles? Dead tree?
34.ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AMONGST THE GOLD? Yellow glazed tiles? Dead tree?
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34.ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AMONGST THE GOLD? Yellow glazed tiles? Dead tree?
34.ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AMONGST THE GOLD? Yellow glazed tiles? Dead tree?
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34.ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES AMONGST THE GOLD? Yellow glazed tiles? Dead tree?
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39. 350' X 350 CROSSHAIR
630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
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630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
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630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
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630 X 350 METER ARROW. FEATURE 97 IN CATALOG
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44. lightened up in photo shop
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47. Steps and a shiny nub in a void
47. Steps and a shiny nub in a void
47. Steps and a shiny nub in a void
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73. TRUNCATED PYRAMID OR ZIGARAUT? Look around, there's lots of features
72. LOOKS LIKE A COMPOUND. YELLOW BOX IS 350' X 250'
72. LOOKS LIKE A COMPOUND. YELLOW BOX IS 350' X 250'
73. TRUNCATED PYRAMID OR ZIGARAUT? Look around, there's lots of features
72. LOOKS LIKE A COMPOUND. YELLOW BOX IS 350' X 250'
73. TRUNCATED PYRAMID OR ZIGARAUT? Look around, there's lots of features
73. TRUNCATED PYRAMID OR ZIGARAUT? Look around, there's lots of features
73. TRUNCATED PYRAMID OR ZIGARAUT? Look around, there's lots of features
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73. TRUNCATED PYRAMID OR ZIGARAUT? Look around, there's lots of features
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78. GREAT ROOFTOP DECORATIVE CORNER
78. GREAT ROOFTOP DECORATIVE CORNER
78. GREAT ROOFTOP DECORATIVE CORNER
78. GREAT ROOFTOP DECORATIVE CORNER
78. GREAT ROOFTOP DECORATIVE CORNER
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78. GREAT ROOFTOP DECORATIVE CORNER
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108. 80' WIDE STRUCTURE WITH DOORWAY ABOVE THE TREES
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130. THIS ONE IS QUESTIONABLE
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130. THIS ONE IS QUESTIONABLE
130. THIS ONE IS QUESTIONABLE
130. THIS ONE IS QUESTIONABLE
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130. THIS ONE IS QUESTIONABLE
130. THIS ONE IS QUESTIONABLE
132. LOOKS LIKE A DOORWAY. DARK AREA IS 9' HIGH
132. LOOKS LIKE A DOORWAY. DARK AREA IS 9' HIGH
132. LOOKS LIKE A DOORWAY. DARK AREA IS 9' HIGH
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132. LOOKS LIKE A DOORWAY. DARK AREA IS 9' HIGH
132. LOOKS LIKE A DOORWAY. DARK AREA IS 9' HIGH
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132. LOOKS LIKE A DOORWAY. DARK AREA IS 9' HIGH
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137. FEATURES ON A LARGE RIGHT ANGLE. MAYBE CORNER OF COMPOUND
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137. FEATURES ON A LARGE RIGHT ANGLE. MAYBE CORNER OF COMPOUND
137. FEATURES ON A LARGE RIGHT ANGLE. MAYBE CORNER OF COMPOUND
137. FEATURES ON A LARGE RIGHT ANGLE. MAYBE CORNER OF COMPOUND
137. FEATURES ON A LARGE RIGHT ANGLE. MAYBE CORNER OF COMPOUND
137. FEATURES ON A LARGE RIGHT ANGLE. MAYBE CORNER OF COMPOUND
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142. ORGANIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE. RIGHT CORNER OF BOX HAS STAIRS LEAF SHAPED ROOF
142. ORGANIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE. RIGHT CORNER OF BOX HAS STAIRS LEAF SHAPED ROOF
142. ORGANIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE. RIGHT CORNER OF BOX HAS STAIRS LEAF SHAPED ROOF
142. ORGANIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE. RIGHT CORNER OF BOX HAS STAIRS LEAF SHAPED ROOF
142. ORGANIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE. RIGHT CORNER OF BOX HAS STAIRS LEAF SHAPED ROOF
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142. ORGANIC STYLE ARCHITECTURE. RIGHT CORNER OF BOX HAS STAIRS LEAF SHAPED ROOF
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153. Might be 20th century, it's not far from the only modern thing found
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153. Might be 20th century, it's not far from the only modern thing found
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153. Might be 20th century, it's not far from the only modern thing found
153. Might be 20th century, it's not far from the only modern thing found
153. Might be 20th century, it's not far from the only modern thing found
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155. ELEVATED FEATURE & STAIRS Maybe a 15' canoe in middle of river. Or could be a ruin or log.
153. Might be 20th century, it's not far from the only modern thing found
155. ELEVATED FEATURE & STAIRS Maybe a 15' canoe in middle of river. Or could be a ruin or log.
155. ELEVATED FEATURE & STAIRS Maybe a 15' canoe in middle of river. Or could be a ruin or log.
155. ELEVATED FEATURE & STAIRS Maybe a 15' canoe in middle of river. Or could be a ruin or log.
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155. ELEVATED FEATURE & STAIRS Maybe a 15' canoe in middle of river. Or could be a ruin or log.
155. ELEVATED FEATURE & STAIRS Maybe a 15' canoe in middle of river. Or could be a ruin or log.
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