Laser mapping has discovered hundreds of ancient structures in the Amazon rainforest that could belong to unknown or little-studied civilizations. It suggests there may be between 10,000 and 24,000 ancient earthworks waiting to be discovered.
An international team of archaeologists has used a new laser mapping technique to discover hundreds of ancient structures in the Amazon, which could belong to unknown or little-studied civilizations.
The study, published in the journal Science, shows that the tropical forest hosts great cultural diversity and complexity, which could have been underestimated by previous researchers.
LiDAR
The technique used is called LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and consists of sending pulses of laser light from an airplane or satellite to the Earth’s surface.
By measuring the time it takes for light to bounce back, a three-dimensional map of the relief and structures found beneath the vegetation can be created.
This can reveal details, such as landslides related to ancient human activities, that would be invisible to the human eye or other remote sensing methods.
Large region observed
Archaeologists used LiDAR to explore more than 5,000 square kilometers of rainforest in four different regions of the Amazon: southern Colombia, western Brazil, northeastern Peru and northern Bolivia.
In total, they identified more than 350 structures, including mounds, plazas, paths, canals and terraces. Some of these structures are known to belong to pre-Columbian cultures such as the Ticuna, the Yurimagua, the Cahuarano, the Omágua or the Arawak, but others could correspond to groups not yet identified.
The study’s authors estimate that the structures date from between 1200 and 1500 AD, although some could be older or more recent. According to them, these structures demonstrate that Amazonian populations had a great capacity to modify the landscape and adapt to different environmental conditions.
Furthermore, they suggest that there are thousands of similar structures waiting to be discovered in other parts of the Amazon, which could change the view we have about the history and culture of this region.
Present threats
The study also raises some challenges for the conservation of the archaeological and ecological heritage of the Amazon, as many of the structures are threatened by deforestation, illegal mining, forest fires and climate change.
The authors advocate for greater collaboration between governments, local communities, non-governmental organizations and researchers to protect this unique and valuable legacy.
Protecting archaeological structures in the Amazon is a major challenge, as many of them are threatened by deforestation, illegal mining, forest fires and climate change.
Possible protective measures
Specialists suggest some possible measures to protect geological structures, in addition to LiDAR technology to identify and map structures hidden under vegetation.
Among these measures are the need to establish management and conservation plans for archaeological sites with the participation of local authorities, indigenous communities and non-governmental organizations.
Also the convenience of delimit archaeological zones and establish agreements with the owners of the land to avoid their invasion or transfer to third parties, as well as sensitize the population about the importance of archaeological heritage as an asset of cultural interest, and promoting its respect and care.
Finally, they raise the urgency of reporting any discovery of archaeological pieces to the competent entities in each country, so that they can be responsible for their protection and safeguarding.
Reference
More than 10,000 pre-Columbian earthworks are still hidden throughout Amazonia. Vinicius Peripato et al. Science, 5 Oct 2023, Vol 382, Issue 6666; pp. 103-109. DOI:10.1126/science.ade2541
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