Fig 1.
Lidar maps of Teotihuacan Valley.
A) skyview factor visualization indicating hypothetical city reconstruction by Millon (29) (yellow) and hydrological systems (blue), and B) color-ramped DEM view of the ceremonial center (rectangle box on left map). Published under a CC BY license, with permission from N. Sugiyama, original copyright Project Plaza of the Columns Complex 2021.
Fig 2.
Mining example from Coatlán, Sierra Patlachique’s northern slope.
A) satellite image of mine extent (Worldview-3, December 12, 2017 courtesy of Maxar Technologies), B) lidar color-ramped DEM draped over sky-view factor of the same area from 2015 indicating terrace lines and three potential mounds, C) photograph of the mine taken from ground verifiction (looking southward) (Photograph: A. Texis), D) location of the mine within the Teotihuacan Valley indicated by the rectangle. PM = potential mound.
Fig 3.
Five feature types identified through the lidar map illustrating a variety of visualization methods.
A) depression (Skyview-factor), B) mounds (Hillshade Relief), C) structure (DEM with 0.5 m contour lines), D) mounds and a plaza (DEM with 0.5 m contour lines), and E) ancient and modern terraces (Slope Relief). Images produced with support by Ariel Texis. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from N. Sugiyama, original copyright Project Plaza of the Columns Complex 2021.
Fig 4.
Modern features within ±5° of the Teotihuacan alignments.
Left: land divisions. Right: other modern features. Satellite images acquired by Worldview-3, December 12, 2017, courtesy of Maxar Technologies. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from Maxar Technologies, original copyright Digital Globe Foundation 2018.
Table 1.
Summary of features recognized on the lidar map and later ground-verified (GV) (count, surface area, and percentage).
Table 2.
Feature accuracy based on pre- and post-ground verification (GV) assessment by feature type.
Fig 5.
A) Modern Property Alignment (Manzana boundaries), B) Modern Teotihuacan Alignment, and C) combined Teotihuacan Alignment features. Map displays total length for each 100m2 grid and % of grids with values above 1. Map produced by T. Catignani.
Fig 6.
Images pertaining a modern rock pile.
A) Sky-view factor image of Plaza of the Columns showing a modern rockpile delineating the complex, rectangle indicates excavation unit along a Teo Modern alignment, B) photograph of the modern rock pile, C) photograph of excavations revealing large wall beneath modern rock pile. Published under a CC BY license, with permission from N. Sugiyama, original copyright Project Plaza of the Columns Complex 2021.
Table 3.
Volume calculations of the Moon Pyramid, Sun Pyramid, and Ciudadela/Feathered Serpent Pyramid.
Fig 7.
3D AutoCAD drawing of trench and tunnel excavations of structure 25B indicating height of bedrock (yellow).
Published under a CC BY license, with permission from S. Sugiyama, original copyright Moon Pyramid Project 2021.
Fig 8.
Artificial ground volume calculation methodology.
Upper left: Lidar DEM indicating the topography (height in masl). Upper right: Bedrock surface model based on excavations at Plaza of the Columns Complex. Below. Profile of #1 and #2 used to calculate volume. Note abrupt cut in bedrock in region 1. Map produced by T. Catignani.
Fig 9.
Distribution of natural versus modern, ancient, and mixed artificial ground calculated from the lidar map of the Teotihuacan Valley.
Total area represents 165 km2. See S1F Table in S1 File for details of surface area.