NEWS: Ancient Lost City Discovered | Ancient Architects

An incredible news story to start the week, as Australian archaeologists have discovered an enormous ancient city in Tonga! It could even be one of the first cities of the Pacific.

Researchers from the Australian National University used Lidar scanning technology to map archaeological sites on the island of Tongatapu, and discovered that urbanisation in the pacific was not purely from western influence – it was in fact an indigenous innovation.

The oldest structures mapped date back to around 300 AD, which, according to researcher Phillip Parton, is 700 years earlier than previously thought.

Watch the video to find out all about this exciting new discovery. Please subscribe to Ancient Architects, Like the video, and please leave a comment below. Thank you.

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#ancientarchitects #lostcivilization #lostcities

[tomlindsay]

We're living with an awful lot of grim news these days, but at the same time it's also an amazing time to be alive. What a discovery!
Thanks for posting!

[monkeywang]

Wow! Seems like they had quite the civilization set up. Absolutely fascinating to think about how well the ancient inhabitants were acclimated to their environment. Ancient does not mean primitive, in my opinion.

[ian_b]

Your channel has become a fabulous resource Matt. You should be proud of what you've achieved!

[TheDejael]

An Amazing new discovery to rewrite the history of Tongatapu! How wonderful. Polynesian cultures are fascinating, from Nan Madol on Ponape Island to Tahiti, to Rapa Nui. Thank you so much for this informative new video, Matt!

[Archaeonauts]

Very interesting to find an ancient city on a remote Pacific island like that. I know it's not nearly as remote as Easter island is, but it's still a long ways from any continent. Though when I think of Tonga, I'm reminded of the pro wrestler Haku. Almost any pro wrestler that's been asked who the toughest guy in the locker room is, most of them say Haku.

[debbralehrman]

It is wonderful to hear about discoveries going on all around the world.
Thanks👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[maeveobyrne]

Fantastic! What a gift of knowledge to the people of Tonga.

[Yezpahr]

Woah, that's epic.
Good choice of you to report on this.

[graham]

Saw this in the news the other day. Love it!

[Demane]

This time period in the Americas and Pacific cultures is becoming intriguing to me. The evidence of peak urbanization, and assumed peak cultural development, appears along this timeline in the Americas (north, central, and south including newly discovered Amazon forest cities) and now possibly places around the Pacific cultures, leads to possibilities of trade and interaction on scales not previously considered. I've only dabbled into genetic results of pre-colonial Americas but some interesting isolated haplogroup groups exist especially in SA, and I've wondered for some time now if there was interaction with Pacific cultures. It really is looking like European colonial expansion happened during a deep decline of previously flourishing and interactive cultures.

[JMMRanMA]

Thanks, Matt, there have been some other discoveries around the Pacific, but not enough has yet been found to make a complete picture.

[scottmackeon]

This is absolutely fascinating! Considering the rec volcanic activity which practically covered the whole island with ash, this discovery seems all the more impressive to me. Thank you for your channel and your coverage of the ancient world!

[Rovinman]

Brilliant, Matt !
More information, as you get it please !
Stay safe !
Stu xx

[PhilippinesFarmLife]

Your work is IMPORTANT and very much appreciated.

[UkuleleBobbyKemp]

Hey that's fantastic Matt, and 'chalk another one up' to LiDAR hey?... I think it was your videos which first introduced me to this amazing technology - and now I'm using it myself, as part of my own Metal-Detecting research!!... Wonderful - thanks mate!! Bobby 🏵🏵

[rupertmiller]

Once again, our ancestors are proven to be capable people of great skill and imagination. No aliens required.

[ironcladranchandforge]

The Polynesians were amazing people!! Thanks for the video!!

[johannahidalgo]

LiDAR is beyond incredible!!! And what we will keep discovering as we keep using this and other

[scottzema]

By the way, the startling heavy urbanization of Tongatapu reinforces the idea that the Polynesians diaspora of about 1000 years ago started in Tonga, and further suggests that basic overcrowding prompted a surplus population to seek new lands to the north, south and east.

[barrywalser]

This is a revelation. Thanks for giving us the latest news Matt! Really appreciate your insight.