LiDAR survey uncovers hundreds of ancient Amazon earthworks

Archaeologists using aerial laser scanning have uncovered hundreds of previously unknown monumental earthworks in the southwestern Amazon, revealing a vast, ancient civilization that flourished for over a millennium and may have supported a population in the millions. The findings, published on July 29, 2026, in the journal Nature, fundamentally challenge long-held assumptions about the Amazon as a pristine wilderness.

The research focused on a 4,497-square-kilometer area in the Brazilian states of Acre and Amazonas. Using LiDAR technology, which penetrates the dense rainforest canopy to map the ground below, a team led by archaeologist Martti Pärssinen of the University of Helsinki identified 432 geometric earthworks, 396 of which were entirely new to science. These structures, known as geoglyphs, include large enclosures, deep ditches, and straight roads, some stretching over 50 hectares. They were constructed by a network of communities researchers refer to as the Aquiry civilization, which existed from approximately 600 B.C. to A.D. 850.

By extrapolating these results across the estimated 183,000-square-kilometer territory of the Aquiry, the study suggests the region could...