Mysterious Ceramic Urns Excavated in Amazon Rainforest

Archaeology Magazine ^ | July 1, 2025 | editors / unattributed

[SunkenCiv]

When a 50-foot Paricarana tree recently toppled in the Brazilian Amazon region of Fonte Boa, it revealed a collection of ceramic vessels buried by an unknown pre-Columbian culture centuries -- or even millennia -- ago. According to a Live Science report, archaeologists called to the site recovered seven vessels, two of which measured more than three feet in diameter, that they believe are funerary urns. Some contained human bones, while others held a mixture of seeds and the remains of fish, frogs, and turtles that were likely part of a funerary ritual. The vases were found within an artificial earthen island that had been built to create dry community living space above the surrounding floodplain. The urns may have been deposited in the floor of a house, as was typically part of local funerary traditions. According to researchers, the deceased were typically left in a basket in the water until fish consumed the body's soft tissues. The skeletal remains were then cremated, placed in an urn, and buried beneath a house. To read about evidence of feasting recovered from mounds built more than 1,200 years ago on the coast of southern Brazil, go to " Something's Fishy."

[SunkenCiv]

An archaeologist excavates one of the ceramic urns at the site of Lago do Cochila in Fonte Boa, Brazil.

Georgea Holanda

[SunkenCiv]

barely related:

• The Mystery Of Carthaginians In The Americas [11/15/2022]
• David Rohl : Greek Dark Age, Hyksos Invasion and Sea Peoples [04/14/2021]
• The Lowly Amphora (and ancient contact across the oceans) [06/01/2015]
• The Roman Head From Tecaxic-Calixtlahuaca, Mexico: A Review Of The Evidence [12/18/2004]
• Romans in Brazil During the Second or Third Century? [10/17/2004]
• Romans In Brazil During The Second Third Century? [12/10/2003]
• Ancient Romans In Texas? [04/14/2002]

[SunkenCiv]

[Waverunner]

Dinosaur eggs?

[Cold Heart]

Largest dinasaur eggs were 10”x12”
From Hypselosauras priscus

[BenLurkin]

[D]eceased were typically left in a basket in the water until fish consumed the body's soft tissues. The skeletal remains were then cremated, placed in an urn, and buried beneath a house.

Charming.

[SunkenCiv]

It’s a form of excarnation, which is one of the three primary ways cultures handle their dead — the other two being inhumation and cremation.

[BenLurkin]

The fish probably appreciated it.

[gundog]

Jeez....you’d think you’d know how to spell “dinosaur.”

Just kidding....

[Beowulf9]

What’s this about Dinah Shore’s eggs?

[No name given]

Perhaps.

[mass55th]

Oh sure...smarty pants 😂

[mass55th]

"What’s this about Dinah Shore’s eggs?"

ROFL!! Good one!!

[Sacajaweau]

That was my first thought, too.

[Waverunner]

Largest found to date, Who knows what lurks deep in the Amazonian rainforest, under the Ice in Antarctica, or in the secret caves of the Himalayas?

[Waverunner]

This guy says, don't even need to be dead....

[noiseman]

Actually, I’ve seen something similar to what she’s dusting off there. You really don’t want to get your face too close to it.

[libertylover]

This is how they stored beer before someone invented beer bottles.

[dfwgator]

They invented Kimchee?