The Amazon continues to amaze us. It is not only the green lung of the Earth (contested between private profits and indigenous families) but also a library of ancient stories, lost civilizations and mysteries yet to be revealed. LIDAR technology is providing us with an incredible panorama of what this place is still holding.
LIDAR the explorer
The Amazon, with its seemingly unexplored vastness, has always evoked a sense of wonder and mystery. The latest research suggests that this region was not always as “pristine” as one might think. On the contrary, it hides many traces of ancient civilizations that have inhabited and shaped it for millennia.
Thanks to LIDAR technology, Luiz Eduardo Oliveira, Cruz de Aragão and their team at the National Institute of Space Research in Brazil explored 5315 square kilometers of the Amazon. This technology, which uses laser light to create 3D representations of terrain, has already revealed 24 previously unknown constructions. These finds are considered the remains of civilizations that lived between 1500 and 500 years ago. And they are just the tip of the iceberg.
A journey through time
Prominent among the discoveries is a fortified village in the southern part of the Amazon, an area known to have been densely populated. These ancient inhabitants not only built villages, but also ceremonial and defensive sites, connected by ancient roads. Some of these sacred places had large stone structures arranged in circular clusters.
But the real twist comes when you consider the extent of the area examined. The team analyzed only 0,08% of the 6,7 million square kilometers of the Amazon. Using a computer model, they estimated that there could be between 10.272 and 23.648 works still hidden under the dense vegetation.
One more ally
Recent studies, and growing evidence of large corporations in the region before the arrival of Europeans could help protect the Amazon. About 17% of the rainforest has already been cut down, and some researchers believe it has already reached a point of no return. But if we recognize the historical and cultural importance of this region, we may be more motivated to protect it.
The Amazon is not only a natural treasure, but also a historical one. Let's protect it not only for its biodiversity, but also for its cultural, or rather: spiritual, richness.
