Archaeologists have made an astonishing discovery in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, unearthing a network of lost cities that were home to over 10,000 farmers approximately 2,000 years ago.
This remarkable find was initially brought to light over two decades ago by archaeologist Stéphen Rostain. However, at that time, there was uncertainty about how these findings were connected. Rostain, who is one of the researchers, recently reported their findings in the journal Science, revealing that laser-sensor technology mapping has unveiled a complex web of settlements and interconnected roadways in Ecuador.
This hidden civilization thrived in the forested foothills of the Andes for approximately 1,000 years, and Rostain describes it as a “lost valley of cities.” The Upano people inhabited these settlements from around 500 B.C. to 300-600 A.D., a timeframe roughly concurrent with the Roman Empire in Europe.
The excavations have unveiled a landscape dotted with more than 6,000 earthen mounds, on which residential and ceremonial structures were constructed. These mounds were surrounded by fields used for agriculture, complete with drainage canals. The largest roads, measuring 33 feet (10 meters) in width, stretched between 6 and 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers).
Estimating the population of these cities is challenging, but it is believed that they were inhabited by at least 10,000 people, with the potential for as many as 15,000 or even 30,000 during its zenith. This population size is comparable to that of Roman-era London, which was Britain’s largest city.
Archaeologist Antoine Dorison, a co-author of the study, suggests that this discovery sheds light on an intricate and densely populated society, unique for its early existence in the region. University of Florida archaeologist Michael Heckenberger, who was not part of the study, referred to it as “in a class of its own in terms of how early it is.”
The construction of the extensive road network and thousands of earthen mounds would have required a sophisticated system of organized labor, as stone was not readily available for construction in this region. The magnitude of effort involved in these endeavors is truly remarkable.
This discovery challenges the prevailing perception of the Amazon as an untouched wilderness with only sparse human populations. Recent findings have unveiled the complexity and diversity of ancient societies in the region, with evidence of intricate rainforest civilizations predating European contact found in various parts of the Amazon, including Bolivia and Brazil.
As Rostain aptly put it, “There’s always been an incredible diversity of people and settlements in the Amazon, not only one way to live. We’re just learning more about them.”
