Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
In a groundbreaking discovery, archaeologists have unveiled a cluster of "lost cities" thriving for over a millennium in the Amazon rainforest. Published in the journal Science on January 18, 2024, the findings showcase intricate networks of roads, neighbourhoods, and gardens, reminiscent of the Mayan civilization.
Laser mapping technology, known as lidar, exposed hidden details of the ancient settlements in Ecuador's Upano Valley, allowing researchers to visualize over 6,000 earthen platforms connected by roads and woven into the agricultural landscapes.
Archaeologist Stéphen Rostain at France's National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS) first identified traces of the cities over 20 years ago, but it wasn't until recent lidar mapping that the full extent of the region's urban agrarian civilization became clear.
Described by Rostain as a "lost valley of cities," the Upano sites were constructed and inhabited by the Upano people from 500 B.C. to between 300 A.D. and 600 A.D., with the population size yet to be determined.
The team discovered five large settlements and 10 smaller ones across 116 square miles, rivaling major archaeological sites like Egypt's Giza Plateau or Teotihuacan's main avenue in Mexico.
The landscape in Upano societies, with houses surrounded by farmland, mirrors the "garden cities" of the Maya, showcasing advanced agricultural practices.
Contrary to previous beliefs that the Amazon was inhospitable for complex civilizations, the newly mapped cities in the Upano Valley challenge this notion. The Amazon, considered the world's most dangerous forest, is proving to be a treasure trove of ancient human settlements.
The Upano cities, dating back 1,000 years before previous findings, precede civilizations like Llanos de Mojos in Bolivia. The discovery shatters preconceived notions about ancient civilizations in the Amazon rainforest.
The revelations from Upano Valley and other recent discoveries underscore the incredible diversity of people and settlements in the Amazon. Archaeologists emphasize that there is much more to uncover, providing new insights into the region's rich and varied ancient cultures.