Lost Colonial City Discovered In The Amazon Rainforest

Archaeologists have discovered a lost colonial city in the Amazon rainforest that dates back to the 18th century. This significant find has revealed insights into a Portuguese settlement that, though it appeared on historical maps, had long eluded precise location identification. Eduardo Neves, the director of the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography at the University of São Paulo and leader of the research team, expressed excitement about the discovery, stating, “It was abandoned, the forest took over, and the stone blocks were removed…We were able to identify the layout of the streets of this city, which was also a fascinating discovery,” as reported by Brazilian news outlet Metrópoles.

The colonization of what is now Brazil began in 1500 when explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral claimed the land for Portugal. Over the next three centuries, Portugal established a colonial administration that exploited Brazil's natural resources, particularly sugar, gold, and coffee, relying heavily on the labor of enslaved Africans. This colonization set the stage for the discovery of the colonial city, which was revealed during an event held by the Amazon Museum in Manaus, as part of the Amazônia Revelada project.

This project aims to identify archaeological sites across the Amazon by merging advanced technology with the traditional knowledge of forest communities. Neves, one of the project coordinators, emphasized the project's goal: “We want to register these archaeological sites to make them part of [our] heritage and create an additional layer of protection for these territories.” The work being done not only sheds light on historical settlements but also seeks to preserve them for future generations.

The Amazon rainforest is seen from a plane flying from the city of Manicore to Manaus in the state of Amazonas, Brazil, on June 10, 2022. Archaeologists have discovered a lost colonial city in the Amazon rainforest that dates back to the 18th century.

The colony grew into a major economic asset for Portugal, but in the early 19th century, under the leadership of Prince Dom Pedro I, Brazil declared its independence, ending over 300 years of colonial rule.

As the Amazônia Revelada project proceeds, it will utilize two complementary strategies. The first involves surveying the rainforest with LIDAR technology to identify archaeological sites obscured by vegetation. LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method that employs laser pulses to map the topography and reveal man-made features that might not be visible to the naked eye.

The second strategy involves local researchers, members of Indigenous and traditional communities, who will document sites significant to their culture. This combination of high-tech mapping and local knowledge aims to ensure the preservation and recognition of archaeological sites across the Amazon basin.

The Amazon region has been inhabited for at least 11,000-12,000 years, with some artifacts suggesting even earlier habitation. Indigenous peoples developed complex societies with evidence of large communities, agricultural systems, and advanced land management techniques long before the arrival of Europeans.

Recent studies have utilized LIDAR technology to document hidden archaeological sites previously unknown in the Amazon. For example, a study published last year in the journal Science reported the discovery of two dozen ancient constructions concealed beneath the forest canopy, showcasing the remnants of various structures built by ancient Indigenous peoples, including towns and ceremonial sites.

The previously unknown earthworks discovered include fortified villages, geoglyphs, and sites along riverbanks that may have served as gathering places for aquatic food. All these findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the region's rich historical and cultural landscape.

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