"Mapping Ancient Ecuadorian Amazon Cities: 1000-Year Settlements Uncovered"

Archaeologists have discovered a cluster of lost cities in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador, home to at least 10,000 farmers around 2,000 years ago. The settlements, occupied by the Upano people, lasted about 1,000 years and featured residential and ceremonial buildings on more than 6,000 earthen mounds, connected by wide roads stretching for miles. This finding challenges the perception of the Amazon as a pristine wilderness and reveals the complexity of early societies in the region.