11/12/2025
Recent archaeological findings have revealed a network of ancient cities hidden within the Amazon rainforest, once bustling with a population of at least 10,000 individuals around 2,000 years ago. Situated near the Andes in the Ecuadorian Amazon, this remarkable discovery was facilitated by cutting-edge LIDAR technology, which unveiled a detailed system of interconnected settlements linked by vast roadways.
These cities, which were occupied by the Upano people from 500 B.C. to 600 A.D., boast over 6,000 earthen mounds, accompanied by sprawling agricultural fields and sophisticated drainage systems. The principal roads reached widths of up to 10 meters (approximately 33 feet) and extended for as much as 20 kilometers (12 miles), connecting various communities and forming what researchers have termed a "lost valley of cities." The scale and organization of these urban centers point to a notably advanced society, prompting a reevaluation of prior beliefs regarding the intricacy of ancient cultures in the Amazon.
This groundbreaking revelation is transforming our comprehension of pre-Columbian societies in the Amazon, illustrating that the area hosted complex and densely populated civilizations long before the arrival of Europeans.