The discovery changes what we know about the history of people living in the Amazon. The houses and plazas in the Upano area in eastern Ecuador were connected by an astounding network of roads and canals.

The area lies in the shadow of a volcano that created rich local soils but also may have led to the destruction of the society.

While we knew about cities in the highlands of South America, like Machu Picchu in Peru, it was believed that people only lived nomadically or in tiny settlements in the Amazon.

"This is older than any other site we know in the Amazon. We have a Eurocentric view of civilisation, but this shows we have to change our idea about what is culture and civilisation," says Prof Stephen Rostain, director of investigation at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France, who led the research.

all 8 comments

sorted by: hot top controversial new old

[–] kalkulat@lemmy.world 22 points 10 months ago

And to think that their colleagues told them not to bother, that there was nothing there. Must feel really gratifying after all those years.

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 17 points 10 months ago (2 children)

The Europeans always spread the myth that they conquered the Americas because they were somehow superior. The fact is that it was simply because 90% of the population died.

[–] pigup@lemmy.world 21 points 10 months ago

[–] Nobody@lemmy.world 4 points 10 months ago

Native American history: We lived on this land for a very long time and had a grand civilization for thousands of years.

Eurocentric history: "Indians" crossed the strait a few years ago and lived in primitive huts or whatever.

Modern Science: Yeah, it was major cities, road networks, etc. for thousands of years. Let me show you the evidence...

[–] Potatofish@lemmy.world 2 points 10 months ago

We've known this for a long time.