[hinkley]

Tropical forests are so aggressive, I don't think we'll ever appreciate how rich the civilizations of Central and South America were until we've had major advances in subterranean mapping technology. Most of the artifacts are likely in anaerobic pockets underground, if they still exist at all.

I recall years ago when they discovered that a 'ziggurat on a hill' was in fact not on a hill, the jungle was just doing an excellent job of burying it.