2,500-year-old ancient lost city's ruins unearthed in Amazon

The ancient city likely had a population of tens of thousands to possibly hundreds of thousands. (Representational)

Archaeologists have unveiled the remains of a colossal ancient city in the Upano region of eastern Ecuador. This discovery, hidden beneath the Amazon's dense vegetation for millennia, challenges the conventional wisdom that the region was home only to nomads or small settlements. The findings, based on a comprehensive survey conducted over 25 years using cutting-edge LiDAR technology, have left the scientific community in awe.

Archaeologists have dated the city's origin to around 2,500 years ago, and it thrived for a millennium, with estimates suggesting a population ranging from tens of thousands to possibly hundreds of thousands.

The city's intricate layout, comprising 6,000 rectangular platforms, each measuring around 20m by 10m and 2-3m high, reveals a sophisticated urban society previously unknown in the Amazon.

The city's complex architecture, including straight roads and platforms arranged in groups, hints at both residential and ceremonial purposes. Laser sensors on a plane utilizing LiDAR technology identified a network of roads extending 25km, showcasing a level of sophistication rarely seen.

While the purpose of the roads remains speculative, researchers believe they hold significant cultural or ceremonial importance. Causeways with ditches, potentially canals managing water resources, were also identified.

The discovery challenges prior assumptions about Amazonian cultures, surpassing even the well-known Mayan societies in size and complexity.
Despite the rich findings, much remains unknown about the daily lives of the inhabitants.

Pits, hearths, jars, stones for grinding plants, and burnt seeds were discovered, suggesting a focus on agriculture. The people likely consumed maize, sweet potatoes, and a type of sweet beer called "chicha."

Professor Stephen Rostain, the director of investigation at the National Centre for Scientific Research in France, who led the research, told BBC, "This is older than any other site we know in the Amazon. We have a Eurocentric view of civilization, but this shows we have to change our idea about what is culture and civilization."

Reflecting on his journey, Rostain revealed, "I was warned against this research at the start of my career because scientists believed no ancient groups had lived in the Amazon. But I'm very stubborn, so I did it anyway. Now I must admit I am quite happy to have made such a big discovery."

The next phase for researchers involves exploring the adjoining 300 sq km area that has yet to be surveyed.