When you think of jungle wilderness, the Amazonian rainforest often comes to mind. But scientists are making new discoveries and rewriting its history. Recent laser mapping via light detection and ranging, called ‘Lidar’, has uncovered a network of ancient cities the Upano Valley, Ecuador. What can be seen is a thriving civilization over 2,500 years old. This discovery not only teaches us about a previously unknown society but also challenges notions of pre-Columbian Amazonian history.
Hidden Civilizations
For decades, it was believed that the Amazon was a sparsely populated area dominated by hunter-gatherer societies. With Lidar, that notion has completely been flipped on its head. Laser pulses are used to penetrate the dense Amazonian vegetation and has mapped hidden structures. In the Upano Valley, Lidar revealed a network of settlements, roads, and agricultural fields that date back to 500 B.C.E., making these cities a millennium older than previously discovered Amazonian societies.
Stéphen Rostain, an archaeologist with France’s National Center for Scientific Research, described the findings as transformative. “It was a lost valley of cities,” he said. “It’s incredible to see how interconnected and complex these settlements were”.
Ancient Amazonian Urbanism
The discoveries include five major cities and 10 smaller settlements spread across 300 square kilometers. The cities were organized with residential buildings, ceremonial structures, agricultural terraces, and roads as wide as 33 feet. These roads, some stretching over 12 miles, connected the Amazonian settlements and suggest a high level of coordination and governance.
At the heart of these cities were massive earthen mounds, some supporting communal or ceremonial buildings. “The complexity of these constructions, especially given the absence of stone, speaks to the ingenuity and organizational capabilities of this society,” noted archaeologist José Iriarte.
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Daily Life in the Upano Valley
Artifacts recovered from the sites, such as pottery, tools, and large jugs for chicha (maize beer), provide insights into daily life. The residents cultivated crops like maize, manioc, and sweet potatoes, which were supported by advanced agricultural techniques including drainage canals. These findings suggest a stable, agrarian society capable of sustaining large populations.
Estimates suggest that the largest city may have housed up to 30,000 people at its peak, a population comparable to Roman-era London. This density indicates a sophisticated social structure and labor organization, particularly for constructing the thousands of earthen mounds and vast road networks.
Lidar Changes The Game
The significance of Lidar cannot be overstated. Before its use, dense forest cover made it nearly impossible to identify the full extent of Amazonian settlements. “Each day of analysis felt like Christmas,” Rostain remarked, as new discoveries kept emerging from the data. Lidar’s ability to reveal the topography beneath the forest is revolutionizing the study of ancient Amazonian societies.
Cultural Diversity in the Amazon
The Upano Valley discoveries are part of a broader reevaluation of Amazonian history. Similar urban systems have been identified in Bolivia and Brazil, but the Upano Valley stands out due to its age and density. “We say ‘Amazonia,’ but we should really say ‘Amazonias,’ to reflect the diversity of cultures and societies,” explained Rostain.
This diversity challenges the long-held notion of the Amazon as a monolithic region. Instead, it was home to numerous complex societies with unique ways of life, adapting to the challenges and resources of their environment.
A Society Lost to Time
Despite its achievements, the Upano Valley civilization eventually declined. Archaeologists continue to investigate why, with theories ranging from environmental changes to shifts in trade routes. “We’re just beginning to understand how these cities were functioning,” said Carla Jaimes Betancourt, a specialist in Amazonian anthropology.
Implications for the Future
The discovery of these ancient cities has implications beyond archaeology. It highlights the Amazon’s potential as a repository of historical and cultural knowledge, emphasizing the importance of preserving the rainforest. “The Amazon is not just a wilderness; it’s a cultural landscape shaped by humans for thousands of years,” said Iriarte.
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A New Chapter in Amazonian History
The revelations from the Upano Valley mark a turning point in our understanding of the way of Amazonian life. As researchers continue to uncovering the past, a picture of a flourishing society pre-European colonization comes to light. These ancient cities are a testament to human ingenuity and the enduring mystery of the world’s largest rainforest.