What's happened
New research using canopy lasers has mapped earthworks across the Amazon, suggesting the Anquiry civilization supported 1.25 to 3 million people at its peak and built a network of geoglyphs and roads with ceremonial centers. The findings challenge the idea of an untouched rainforest and imply a long and complex precolonial society.
What's behind the headline?
Brief
- Canopy-penetration lasers reveal vast earthworks in Amazonia, overturning the view of an untouched forest.
- Estimates suggest up to 3 million people at the civilization’s zenith.
- Roads and ceremonial centers imply a planned, centralized network rather than scattered villages.
What this means
- The landscape was actively shaped by large populations long before European contact.
- This challenges narratives of pristine wilderness and highlights regional environmental management and societal organization.
What comes next
- Further surveys may uncover more sites, necessitating reassessment of precolonial demography and climate impact.
- Archaeobotanical and chronological work will refine timelines and social structure.
How we got here
Canopy Laser Mapping has transformed our view of precolonial Amazonia. The study surveyed over 1,700 square miles and identified more than 432 earthworks, many new to science. Researchers estimate thousands more sites lie undiscovered, reframing the region’s environmental history and human impact.
Our analysis
BBC Business reports on Brymbo fossil shrimp and La Brea toad are unrelated. The Nature study is outlined by New Scientist coverage of canopy lasers in Amazonia, with institutional input from University of Helsinki researchers.
Go deeper
- How might this reshape our understanding of Amazon biodiversity today?
- What kinds of artifacts or remains are expected at newly found sites?
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