Koolasuchus

Recent archeological research suggests that the population density in some areas of the Amazon region was higher then earlier belived. This is explained by the ancient indigenous peoples ability to manage naural resources and transform the landscape. Soil enrichment, aquaculture and other advanced methods helped these peoples to uphold advanced cultures and urban, or at least semi urban, settlements. Many schoolars think that these societies were heavily decimated at the time of contact with Europeans due to diseases, war, slavery and migration.

Here is one interesting article that tells about interesting discoveries in the upper Xingu area in Brazil:

Heckenberger, Michael J, et al, 2008: Pre-Columbian Urbanism, Anthropogenic Landscapes, and the Future of the Amazon. Science 29 Vol. 321. no 5893, pp 1214-1217


Here is a popular introduction to the subject:


http://news.nationalgeographic.com/n...ostamazon.html

pinguin

A few ancient towns is not evidence at all that the Amazon as a whole had an higher density at all. The density of the Amazon was quite low, even for American standards.

Edgewaters

Sure it is. Having towns is a higher density than not having towns. "Higher" is not the same thing as "high".

pinguin

What I mean is that those towns are drops of high-density population in a sea of low-density regions.

gaius valerius

Which isn't all that strange if you look at Europe, many places were called towns even if the populace was only 400. The archeological evidence doesn't point towards metropoles, but towards closely interlinked and decentralised communities of a relative size.

whalebreath

Sounds like someone who considers himself the Forum's resident expert on the Americas has his nose out of joint over posting of this article.
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A related development in modern times terra preta-ancient to the future.

pinguin

Whalebreath,

Sound it is an old topic, that appears again. The Terra-Preta is in fashion, actually. The famous "discovery" of the high density amazons. It sound as the search of El Dorado or the return to the Golden Age.

Koolasuchus

Not a surch of El Dorado but just new archaeological discoveries that expands older knowledge. New surveys, excavations and methods yields new results. Especially in an area that has not been very thoroughly surveyd before.

pinguin

Personally, what interest me the most is the relationship between some advanced Andean cilizations with the Amazon. For instance, Chavin had roots in that region.. or at least it is suspected it has.

whalebreath

Why do you feel the need to belittle other posters contributions on anything to do with Latina America?

You don't own all the knowledge on the place you know-lighten up.