Archaeological Surveys Uncover Ancient Amazon Societies

MACAPA, Brazil - Archaeological surveys required before paving roads through the Amazon rainforest have uncovered new evidence of ancient Indigenous societies in Brazil's northern state of Amapa, revealing a history of interconnected communities that shaped the landscape long before European arrival.

The discoveries emerged along the BR156 highway, where construction mandates excavations to preserve cultural heritage. At nine dig sites, researchers found pottery vases believed to be funerary urns and small artifacts resembling human faces. The pottery displayed diverse styles and techniques, indicating influences from communities in Brazil's Para state to the Caribbean region. A team from the National Department of Transport Infrastructure cleaned and analyzed the items, which trace layers of occupation from pre-colonial Indigenous eras to European settlement.

"The layers of the Amazon soil I excavated are a historic timeline," said archaeologist Manoel Fabiano da Silva Santos. "In the upper layers, we found items such as Portuguese porcelain and nails linked to European occupation. Digging deeper, we uncovered pottery and ceramics associated with earlier Indigenous presence,...