A GIS system can be used to rank cities by size.

For example, the map below shows large (Rank 1) Maya sites near Merida, Mexico.

click for larger version

We can compare this with a map showing Rank 2 sites also

And here we have Rank 3 and 4 sites as well, showing a clearer picture of Maya settlement in the region.

  © Copyright 2001, 2002, 2005, 2008 Walter R. T. Witschey and Clifford T. Brown, The Electronic Atlas of Ancient Maya Sites