Ancient Cities Uncovered in Amazon Rainforest

Laser Technology Reveals Network of 2,000-Year-Old Cities in Ecuador's Upano Valley

Researchers have discovered a complex network of ancient cities in the Amazon rainforest, believed to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years old, using airborne laser sensors.
The cities, located in Ecuador's Upano River Valley, were home to at least 10,000 farmers around 2,000 years ago.
The discovery includes a vast system of farmland, roads and neighbourhoods, revealing a sophisticated level of urban planning and engineering.
The cities were connected by wide, straight roads, and the areas between the cities were drained fields for cultivating crops like maize, beans, sweet potatoes, and cassava.
The discovery challenges the notion of the Amazon as a pristine forest, showing significant human influence and modification of the environment.