"Unearthing Lost Cities of the Amazon and the Americas"

Using lidar technology and decades of research, archaeologists have discovered a cluster of ancient cities in the Amazon's Upano Valley in eastern Ecuador, revealing evidence of dense settlements in the region dating back to around 500 B.C. The findings, published in the journal Science, showcase the use of laser-mapping technology to uncover five major settlements and 10 secondary sites across more than 115 square miles, shedding new light on the ancient history of the Amazon.