Amazonian find stuns researchers

The Seattle Times ^ | 9-20-03 | By Thomas H. Maugh II

[vannrox]

Amazonian find stuns researchers

Deep in the Amazon forest of Brazil, archaeologists have found a network of 1,000-year-old towns and villages that refutes two long-held notions: that the pre-Columbian tropical rain forest was a pristine environment that had not been altered by humans, and that the rain forest could not support a complex, sophisticated society.

A 15-mile-square region at the headwaters of the Xingu River contains at least 19 villages that are sited at regular intervals and share the same circular design. The villages are connected by a system of broad, parallel highways, Florida researchers reported in yesterday's issue of Science.

The Xinguano people who occupied the area not only built the complex towns but also dramatically altered the forest to meet their needs, clearing large areas to plant orchards and cassava while preserving other areas as a source of wood, medicine and animals.

[John Valentine]

Thanks, I had not read this particular Card novel, but I surely will.

[SunkenCiv]

This is an oldie. Thanks Vannrox.

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[RightWhale]

the population in one village and town complex was 2,500 to 5,000 people

Utopology suggests that the ideal utopian population would be 5000. Most utopias have fewer and fail for a variety of reasons. These villages seem to be planned, and that is interesting in itself. Perhaps they were built by someone other than what is considered local natives. They failed eventually even with the ideal population.

[SunkenCiv]

Just updating the GGG information, not sending a general distribution.

To all -- please ping me to other topics which are appropriate for the GGG list. Thanks.

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[SunkenCiv]

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