This latest discovery is believed to be the oldest human settlement known in the Amazonian region. Laser mapping technology has unveiled a lost network of interconnected cities in Ecuador's Upano Valley, hidden beneath the dense foliage. Some of the mounds had been known of for decades, but the full extent of the ancient development in the region has now been revealed. Evidence of sophisticated rainforest societies predating European contact has been uncovered in various Amazonian regions, such as Bolivia and Brazil. Top image: A lidar map of the city of Kunguints in the Ecuadorian Amazon reveals ancient streets lined with houses.

Source: The Guardian January 12, 2024 14:05 UTC