function place_map(map)
	local map_path = core.get_modpath("maps") .. "/maps/"
	local map_data = dofile(map_path .. map .. "/map.lua")
	local barrier_nodes = {}

	
	core.place_schematic({x=0, y=0, z=0}, map_path .. map .. "/map.mts", 0, nil, true)
	
	if map_data.spawn_x == nil or map_data.spawn_y == nil or map_data.spawn_z == nil then -- set a default spawnpoint if not set
		map_data.spawn_x = map_data.size_x / 2
		map_data.spawn_y = map_data.barrier_level + 1
		map_data.spawn_z = map_data.size_z / 2
	end
	
	return map_data
end

function remove_barrier(x, y, z)
	for node_x = 1, x - 2 do
		for node_z = 1, z - 2 do
			core.set_node({x = node_x, y = y - 1, z = node_z}, {name = "air"}) -- account for the fact that lua counts starting at 1... i think.... whatever, it works \_('_')_/
		end
	end	
	return ""
end