AI Unlocks Ancient Urban Secrets of the Amazon Rainforest

Researchers led by Dr. Carolina Beltran have developed ANTHROSCAPE, a revolutionary AI system that analyzes satellite LiDAR data to detect ancient settlements in the Amazon rainforest. This machine learning algorithm identifies subtle landscape modifications invisible to the human eye, revealing evidence of sophisticated pre-Columbian urban networks. Since 2021, ANTHROSCAPE has discovered over 200 previously unknown settlement complexes in the upper Tapajós Basin alone, featuring geometric earthworks, water management systems, agricultural zones, road networks, and ceremonial centers. These findings suggest the Amazon supported complex societies with populations potentially reaching millions between 500-1600 CE, challenging the notion that the region was merely pristine wilderness with scattered primitive tribes. The technology has sparked similar AI-powered archaeological initiatives globally, while also revealing sustainable land management practices that maintained biodiversity while supporting large populations—information that could inform modern conservation efforts.

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