Archaeologists have made a groundbreaking discovery in the Amazon rainforests of Ecuador, uncovering a dense network of interconnected cities dating back at least 2,500 years. This find, hidden beneath the forests of the Upano Valley, challenges long-held beliefs that the Amazon rainforests were largely uninhabitable and sparsely populated.
Lidar Technology Unveils Hidden Cities
The use of Light Detection and Ranging (Lidar) technology was instrumental in revealing these ancient urban centers. Lidar, a remote sensing method involving pulsed laser light, allowed researchers to penetrate the dense forest canopy and unveil topographic features otherwise concealed. This innovative approach has uncovered a sprawling network of settlements and connecting roadways at the base of the Andes, which were once home to at least 10,000 farmers.
A Complex and Organized Society
The Lidar survey, funded by the National Institute for Cultural Heritage in Ecuador, identified five large settlements and 10 smaller ones across an area of 116 square miles. These settlements were densely packed with residential and ceremonial structures, connected by wide, straight roads. The cities were interspersed with rectangular agricultural fields and surrounded by hillside terraces, indicating an agrarian-based society with a focus on crops like corn, manioc, and sweet potato.
Cultural Significance and Historical Context
The interconnected roads suggest that these cities in the Upano Valley coexisted simultaneously, likely between 500 BC and AD 300 to 600. At their peak, they may have housed up to 15,000 or 30,000 inhabitants, comparable to Roman-era London. The complexity of this society is particularly evident in its sophisticated road network, carefully constructed to intersect at right angles, regardless of the landscape.
Paradigm Shift in Understanding Amazonian History
This discovery marks a significant shift in the understanding of ancient South American life, refuting the notion that the Amazon was primarily inhabited by nomadic or small-settlement societies. It suggests a much more extensive occupation of these areas and significant landscape modification by ancient populations. The findings underscore the need to reevaluate our preconceptions of the Amazonian world, acknowledging its rich environmental and cultural heritage.
