Big Ancient Cities Discovered in the Amazon Rainforest

Archaeologists have recently unearthed a groundbreaking discovery in the Amazon rainforest, revealing the existence of the largest and oldest network of pre-Hispanic cities to date. This ancient civilization, estimated to be around 2,500 years old, was concealed by the dense jungle in the Upano valley, situated at the foothills of the Andes mountain range in eastern Ecuador. Spanning over 1,000 square kilometers, the site has been hidden for centuries.

Led by a French research team, the breakthrough was made possible through the utilization of advanced laser-mapping technology, known as Lidar, along with traditional archaeological excavations. The researchers identified a network of 20 settlements, including five sizable cities, interconnected by a system of roads.

Stephen Rostain, the lead archaeologist from France's CNRS research center, likened the discovery to finding "El Dorado." The scale of urban development uncovered is unprecedented in the Amazon, featuring earthen homes, ceremonial structures, and sophisticated agricultural drainage systems. Rostain emphasized that this is not merely a collection of villages but an entire landscape that has been deliberately shaped by human activity.

The initial signs of this lost civilization were noticed by Rostain 25 years ago when he observed numerous mounds in the Upano valley. In 2015, the team employed Lidar technology to penetrate the forest canopy, revealing over 6,000 earthen mounds serving as the foundations of homes for the "Upano people." These mounds, some reaching up to 10 meters in height, were not just residential but also served as communal spaces for rituals and festivals.

The cities feature large, straight streets reminiscent of urban planning seen in places like New York. Some have central alleys where people from surrounding villages gathered, drawing comparisons to the ancient Teotihuacan city in Mexico. The researchers speculated that these ceremonial events could have attracted several thousand participants.

The agricultural practices of the Upano people are also noteworthy, with small fields strategically utilizing every available space for cultivation. The construction of the first mounds is believed to have commenced between 500 BC and 300-600 AD, coinciding with the time of the Roman Empire. In contrast to other large villages discovered in the Amazon dating from 500-1,500 AD, this network of cities is significantly older and larger.

The discovery challenges preconceived notions that the Amazon was inhabited solely by hunter-gatherer societies before European colonization. Rostain emphasized the need to reconsider the historically dismissive view of the capabilities of pre-colonial Amazonian populations, highlighting the complexity and urban nature of the society that once thrived in this region. The fate of the Upano people remains unknown, adding another layer of mystery to this remarkable archaeological find.

Jan. 13, 2024 5:30 a.m. 1780

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