Summary
This study uses LIDAR remote sensing across the Amazon basin to reveal the extent of pre-Columbian human modification of Amazonian forests. The discovery of 24 previously unknown earthworks and modelled projections of 10,000–24,000 remaining undiscovered sites, combined with identification of 53 domesticated tree species concentrated at these sites, demonstrates that ancient Amazonian societies actively managed forests at landscape scale. The findings substantially revise understanding of the magnitude of human influence on current Amazonian forest composition and structure.
Regional applicability
This study focuses on the Amazon basin, primarily in South America (Brazil and bordering regions), and does not directly apply to United Kingdom conditions or farming systems. However, the work has global significance for understanding human–forest interactions and demonstrates methods (LIDAR archaeology) that could inform landscape management and heritage conservation approaches in other regions.
Key measures
Number and spatial distribution of pre-Columbian earthworks detected via LIDAR; modelled abundance and location of undiscovered sites; association of domesticated tree species with earthwork occurrence probability.
Outcomes reported
The study identified 24 previously undetected pre-Columbian earthworks using LIDAR and modelled the distribution of undiscovered archaeological sites, estimating 10,272–23,648 remain to be found. It also identified 53 domesticated tree species significantly associated with earthwork sites, suggesting deliberate forest management by ancient societies.
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