Archaeological digs in Amazon provide clues about Indigenous inhabitants before colonization
Summary
Archaeological digs along a highway in Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have uncovered ancient pottery and artifacts linked to Indigenous people who lived there before European colonization. These finds help scientists learn more about the history of the region and highlight the need to protect these sites even as road construction continues.Key Facts
- Road construction in the Amazon requires archaeological surveys before paving begins.
- The BR-156 highway in Amapa state, Brazil, is one location where digs have found important artifacts.
- Discoveries include pottery vessels that may have been used as funerary urns.
- Small artifacts resembling human faces have also been found at multiple dig sites.
- These findings provide new information about Indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon before European contact.
- Archaeologists see a tension between development and preservation but emphasize protecting historical sites.
- The Archaeological Research Center at Amapa’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research manages work on these sites.
- Scientists are using these discoveries to better understand and safeguard the cultural heritage of the Amazon region.
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