An Age of Magic

Clear the Amazon and what do you find…? another ancient civilisation.

Hundreds of geometric monuments unearthed deep in the Amazon may have been left behind by a previously unknown society, say scientists. Archaeologists have found more than 200 earthworks shaped as perfect circles and squares, many connected by straight roads. They have dated one site to 1283AD but say others could be from as early as 200AD.

The earthen structures or ‘geoglyphs’ can now be spotted against the treeless, savanna-like landscape and scientists have compiled an archive using Google Earth. A team of researchers have analysed all the findings in a paper published in the journal ‘Antiquity’. They found that most earthworks were clustered on a 200m high plateau at the top of river valleys. This would have given inhabitants a defensive advantage with a clear view of people coming up river. Most were also placed near spring water sources.

Excavations at some sites have also revealed evidence of permanent habitation, including domestic ceramics, charcoal and grinding stone fragments. The findings cast serious doubt on previous studies that stated the area could only support small, impermanent villages. Instead it is likely the Amazon teemed with complex societies. These were probably wiped out by diseases brought to South America by colonists 500 years ago.

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