A group of lost cities has been discovered by archaeologists in the Amazon rainforest, which was inhabited by a minimum of 10,000 farmers approximately 2,000 years ago.
Over twenty years ago, archaeologist Stéphen Rostain observed a collection of mounds and hidden roads in Ecuador. However, at the time, Rostain was uncertain about their connection. Along with other researchers, he published a report on these discoveries in the journal Science on Thursday.
Newly conducted mapping using laser-sensor technology has uncovered that these locations were in fact included in a highly concentrated network of civilizations and interconnecting roads, nestled within the forested foothills of the Andes. This network was continuously inhabited for approximately 1,000 years.
Rostain, the director of investigations at France’s National Center for Scientific Research, described it as a valley filled with forgotten cities. The discovery is truly remarkable.
The researchers discovered that the Upano people inhabited the settlements from around 500BC to AD300 to 600, which overlaps with the time period of the Roman empire in Europe.
Residential and ceremonial buildings erected on more than 6,000 earthen mounds were surrounded by agricultural fields with drainage canals. The largest roads were 33 feet (10 meters) wide and stretched for 6-12 miles (10-20km).
According to archaeologist Antoine Dorison, a co-author of the study from a French institute, it is challenging to determine the exact number of people residing in the site. However, it is believed that the population could have been anywhere from 10,000 to 30,000 during its prime, which is similar to the estimated population of London during the Roman era – making it the largest city in Britain at the time.
The University of Florida archaeologist Michael Heckenberger, who was not involved in the study, stated that this demonstrates a high population density and a highly intricate society. He also noted that within the region, it stands out for being one of the earliest examples.
According to archaeologist José Iriarte from the University of Exeter, constructing the roads and numerous earthen mounds would have necessitated a sophisticated system of coordinated labor.
According to Iriarte, the Incas and Mayans used stone as their primary building material, but the people of Amazonia did not have access to stone and instead used mud. This required a significant amount of labor. Iriarte did not play a part in the research.
According to the speaker, the Amazon is typically viewed as an untouched natural environment with minimal human presence. However, recent findings have revealed the true complexity of its past.
Researchers have recently discovered proof of complex rainforest civilizations that existed before the arrival of Europeans in other parts of the Amazon, such as Bolivia and Brazil.
Rostain stated that the Amazon has always had a vast range of individuals and communities, and there is not just one way of life. He also mentioned that there is still much to discover about them.
Source: theguardian.com
