Archaeologists spent decades studying the Upano Valley in Ecuador, but a remarkable discovery occurred with the application of aerial LiDAR, which involves laser pulses reflected on the landscape.
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The new discovery revealed a network of ancient structures and roads hidden beneath the dense vegetation of the Amazon rainforest, dating back approximately 2,500 years. This would be the first and largest known example of an agricultural civilization in the dense tropical jungle.
The complexity of the society that occupied the region between 500 B.C. and 300-600 A.D. was evidenced by thousands of rectangular earth platforms, squares, and mounds interconnected by a vast road network.
Using LiDAR, researchers examined half of the extensive pre-Hispanic complex covering about 600 square kilometers. In addition to connecting the site, the roads also extended outward, serving as a network of connection for the community.
Source: Live Science and Science.