A huge ancient city has been found in the Amazon jungle. Archaeologists believe that the ancient city was founded 2,500 years ago and that people may have lived there for about a thousand years.
A huge ancient city has been found in the Amazon jungle in the Upano region of eastern Ecuador. The ancient city was located in rich soil but in the shadow of a volcano that may have also led to the destruction of the community, scientists said, adding that houses and squares were connected to each other by “amazing” roads and canals. Archaeologists believe that the ancient city was founded 2,500 years ago and that people may have lived there for about a thousand years. Although it is not known how many people lived in the ancient city, scientists say 10,000 people may have lived there.
Prof. Stephen Rostain from France’s National Center for Scientific Research said, “This is older than any other ancient site we know of in the Amazon. We have a European view of civilization, but the discovery of the ancient city shows us that our view of civilization and culture needs to change. This discovery has changed the way we look at Amazonian culture. Many people were depicted in small groups, probably naked, hunters and gatherers, but this discovery shows that people lived complex urban lives.”
The archaeologists carried out their work using aerial laser technology, which can identify remains under dense vegetation and trees, as well as excavations over 300 square kilometers.
