"El Pilar" is a new release on the pioneering practice of "archaeology under the canopy," which bolsters modern-day practices of sustainable, garden-style forest agriculture. The ancient technique of rainforest gardens offers an alternative source of revenue and a continuous supply of food, medicine and other resources to vulnerable Mayan communities living near the long-disputed border of Guatemala and Belize.
Dr. Anabel Ford is credited with the discovery of El Pilar, an ancient city of 20,000 (at its peak) that flourished for nearly 2,000 years with its gardens, temples and monuments all beneath its natural tree cover. Ford and others hope to promote the site as a tourist attraction, supporting the farming practice and creating the first archaeological "peace park" in the process, as these Central American nations cooperate for their mutual benefit.
