Lost Amazon city discovered by archaeologists
Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Amazon rainforest, uncovering a cluster of lost cities that were home to at least 10,000 farmers around 2,000 years ago. The findings were reported in the journal Science by a team of researchers, including archaeologist Stéphen Rostain.
The findings are the result of recent mapping using laser-sensor technology, which revealed a dense network of settlements and connecting roadways in the forested foothills of the Andes. These settlements were occupied by the Upano people between 500 B.C. and 300 to 600 A.D., a period roughly contemporaneous with the Roman Empire in Europe.
The settlements featured residential and ceremonial buildings erected on more than 6,000 earthen mounds, surrounded by agricultural fields with drainage canals. The largest roads were 33 feet wide and stretched for 6 to 12 miles. The site was home to at least 10,000 inhabitants, and perhaps as many as 15,000 or 30,000 at its peak, comparable to the estimated population of Roman-era London.
According to archaeologist Antoine Dorison, the findings show a very dense occupation and an extremely complicated society, bringing to light the sophistication of early settlements in the region.
Experts believe that building the extensive roadways and thousands of earthen mounds would have required an elaborate system of organized labor, particularly since the people in the region did not have stone available to build, and instead used mud as their primary building material.
This discovery challenges the common perception of the Amazon as a pristine wilderness, shedding light on the complex societies that existed in the region prior to European contact. Recent discoveries in Bolivia and Brazil have also revealed evidence of intricate rainforest societies that were previously unknown.
Researchers emphasized that the findings demonstrate the incredible diversity of people and settlements in the Amazon and signify important advancements in our understanding of the region’s rich history.