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Pre-Columbian earth-builders settled along the entire southern rim of the Amazon

Author

Listed:
  • Jonas Gregorio Souza

    (College of Humanities, University of Exeter, Laver Building, North Park Road)

  • Denise Pahl Schaan

    (Federal University of Pará)

  • Mark Robinson

    (College of Humanities, University of Exeter, Laver Building, North Park Road)

  • Antonia Damasceno Barbosa

    (Federal University of Pará)

  • Luiz E. O. C. Aragão

    (National Institute for Space Research
    College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter)

  • Ben Hur Marimon Jr.

    (Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina)

  • Beatriz Schwantes Marimon

    (Universidade do Estado de Mato Grosso, Campus de Nova Xavantina)

  • Izaias Brasil Silva

    (National Institute for Space Research)

  • Salman Saeed Khan

    (College of Humanities, University of Exeter, Laver Building, North Park Road)

  • Francisco Ruji Nakahara

    (Federal University of Pará)

  • José Iriarte

    (College of Humanities, University of Exeter, Laver Building, North Park Road)

Abstract

The discovery of large geometrical earthworks in interfluvial settings of southern Amazonia has challenged the idea that Pre-Columbian populations were concentrated along the major floodplains. However, a spatial gap in the archaeological record of the Amazon has limited the assessment of the territorial extent of earth-builders. Here, we report the discovery of Pre-Columbian ditched enclosures in the Tapajós headwaters. The results show that an 1800 km stretch of southern Amazonia was occupied by earth-building cultures living in fortified villages ~Cal AD 1250–1500. We model earthwork distribution in this broad region using recorded sites, with environmental and terrain variables as predictors, estimating that earthworks will be found over ~400,000 km2 of southern Amazonia. We conclude that the interfluves and minor tributaries of southern Amazonia sustained high population densities, calling for a re-evaluation of the role of this region for Pre-Columbian cultural developments and environmental impact.

Suggested Citation

  • Jonas Gregorio Souza & Denise Pahl Schaan & Mark Robinson & Antonia Damasceno Barbosa & Luiz E. O. C. Aragão & Ben Hur Marimon Jr. & Beatriz Schwantes Marimon & Izaias Brasil Silva & Salman Saeed Khan, 2018. "Pre-Columbian earth-builders settled along the entire southern rim of the Amazon," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03510-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03510-7
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    Cited by:

    1. Nicolás Gazzán & Cristina Cancela-Cereijo & Camila Gianotti & Pastor Fábrega-Álvarez & Laura del Puerto & Felipe Criado-Boado, 2022. "From Mounds to Villages: The Social Construction of the Landscape during the Middle and Late Holocene in the India Muerta Lowlands, Uruguay," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-21, March.
    2. Juan Manuel Orozco-Ortiz & Clara Patricia Peña-Venegas & Sara Louise Bauke & Christian Borgemeister & Ramona Mörchen & Eva Lehndorff & Wulf Amelung, 2021. "Terra Preta Properties in Northwestern Amazonia (Colombia)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-16, June.
    3. Duran-Fernandez, Roberto & de Carvalho Coutinho, Taciana, 2024. "The Amazon: A Puzzle Between Development and Sustainability?," EconStor Preprints 281668, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.

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