Beneath the dense canopy of the Amazon rainforest lies the remnants of an ancient civilization that has long eluded discovery. Aerial surveys conducted in the Upano region of Ecuador have unveiled a sophisticated network of roads and canals connecting houses and structures, challenging the previous notion that the Amazon was sparsely inhabited.
Unveiling the Enigmatic Ancient City
Contrary to the belief that only small groups resided in the vast rainforest, these revelations paint a different picture. Archaeologists estimate that this mysterious city thrived between 3,000 and 1,500 years ago, potentially housing tens of thousands of people. As we unravel the secrets of this vanished civilization, questions linger about the fate that befell this once-flourishing society.
The groundbreaking discovery of the ancient Amazonian civilization was led by France’s National Centre for Scientific Research, guided by Professor Stephen Rostain. While utilizing advanced LIDAR technology, the team unraveled long-concealed secrets in Bolivia’s dense rainforest. This technology is a game-changer, opening avenues for transformative research and exploration in the mysterious Amazonian landscape.
Scientific Exploration Unveils Amazonian Secrets
Scientists from the UK and Germany uncovered 26 settlements, with 11 new sites, in Bolivia’s Amazon. In Ecuador, an ancient city revealed 6,000 raised platforms across 300 sq km, indicating structures and dwellings along with fields and drainage canals. The survey unveiled an extensive network of straight roads, the longest spanning 25 km. These findings redefine our understanding of Amazonian civilizations, emphasizing their richness and complexity.
In ancient settlements, residents strategically built straight roads, meticulously excavated five meters deep, deviating from natural contours. Subsequent excavations revealed evidence of ditches and defensive structures, suggesting potential conflicts among inhabitants. These findings illuminate the strategic foresight and challenges faced by ancient people in the vibrant Amazonian landscape. With this new technology, who knows what other secrets the Amazon will hold.