Amazon History of South America

geoglyphs on deforested land in amazon rainforest

for long time, scholars believed amazon forests occupied small numbers of hunter-gatherer tribes. archeologist betty j. meggers prominent proponent of idea, described in book amazonia: man , culture in counterfeit paradise. however, recent archeological findings have suggested region densely populated. 1970s, numerous geoglyphs have been discovered on deforested land dating between 0–1250 ad. additional finds have led conclusions there highly developed , populous cultures in forests, organized pre-columbian civilizations. bbc s unnatural histories claimed amazon rainforest, rather being pristine wilderness, has been shaped man @ least 11,000 years through practices such forest gardening.

the first european travel length of amazon river francisco de orellana in 1542. bbc documentary unnatural histories presents evidence francisco de orellana, rather exaggerating claims thought, correct in observations advanced civilization flourishing along amazon in 1540s. believed civilization later devastated spread of infectious diseases europe, such smallpox, natives had no immunity. 5 million people may have lived in amazon region in 1500, divided between dense coastal settlements, such @ marajó, , inland dwellers. 1900 population had fallen 1 million, , 1980s, less 200,000.

researchers have found fertile terra preta (black earth) distributed on large areas in amazon forest. accepted these soils product of indigenous soil management. development of soil enabled agriculture , silviculture conducted in hostile environment. large portions of amazon rainforest therefore result of centuries of human management, rather naturally occurring has been supposed. in region of xinguanos tribe, remains of of these large, mid-forest amazon settlements found in 2003 michael heckenberger , colleagues of university of florida. among remains evidence of constructed roads, bridges , large plazas.