Between 10,272 and 23,648 large-scale pre-Columbian structures may still be awaiting discovery in the Amazon.
Archaeologists suggest that the vast Amazon basin conceals over 10,000 undiscovered pre-Columbian archaeological sites.
According to a recent study, this estimate, derived from advanced remote sensing techniques and predictive spatial modeling, sheds light on the historical impact of ancient societies on the Amazon region.
TOPSHOT - A drone view of the Manicore river, deep inside the Amazonia rainforest, Amazonas state, Brazil, on June 7, 2022. - A research expedition, organized by Greenpeace in partnership with the National Institute for Amazonian Research (INPA), is carried out in the Almirante Moreira VII boat which serves as a floating base.
The Amazon basin has been inhabited by Indigenous societies for over 12,000 years, resulting in the creation of ancient earthwork structures and modified landscapes that have had enduring effects on the composition of modern forests.
However, the sheer size and scale of Amazon settlements and landscape transformations remain inadequately understood, primarily due to these sites' remote and densely vegetated nature.
"The massive extent of archaeological sites and widespread human-modified forests across Amazonia is critically important for establishing an accurate understanding of interactions between human societies, Amazonian forests, and Earth's climate," the study's authors wrote.
To address this knowledge gap, researchers led by Vinicius Peripato utilized Airborne LIDAR technology, which enables the mapping of subtle changes in ground topography beneath forest canopies.
This approach revealed 24 previously unknown human-made earthworks, including fortified villages, defensive and ceremonial structures, mountaintop settlements, and other geoglyphs, across various regions of the Amazon basin. It is worth noting that the LIDAR survey covered only a small fraction (0.08%) of the total Amazonia area.
To extrapolate the potential number and locations of yet undiscovered Pre-Columbian sites, Peripato and his team combined data from their basin-wide survey with information on previously identified areas, employing a predictive spatial distribution model.