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Man made ditches in Brazil - Parana

The Mysterious Man-Made Ditches that Predate Amazon Rainforest

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A recent study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences revealed that a series of mysterious lines and geometric shapes carved into the Amazonian landscape were created thousands of years ago before the rainforest even existed, according to a report in Discovery News. The purpose of the massive earthworks and who created them remains unknown, and scientists are beginning to realise just how much there still is to learn about the prehistoric cultures of the Amazon and life before the arrival of Europeans. 

The unusual earthworks, which include square, straight, and ring-like ditches, were first uncovered in 1999, after large areas of pristine forest was cleared for cattle grazing. Since then, hundreds of the earthen foundations have been found in a region more than 150 miles across, covering northern Bolivia and Brazil’s Amazonas state.

Aerial photograph of ditches at Fazenda Parana

Aerial photograph of ditches at Fazenda Parana. Credit: Edison Caetano, Antiquity Journal

The ditches were sculpted from the clay rich soils of the Amazon and are typically around 30 feet wide and 10 feet deep, alongside 3 feet high walls. However, the largest ring ditches found so far are an incredible 1,000 feet in diameter.  The purpose of the ditches remains a complete mystery. The fact that many of them are clustered on a 200 metre high plateau suggests they may have been used for defence, however, others have suggested they were used for drainage or for channelling water since most were placed near spring water source. A team of researchers who published a paper in the journal Antiquity in 2010 argued that the layout of the ditches is highly symbolic suggestion a ceremonial and religious function.

Plan of earthworks at Fazenda Colorada

Aerial photograph and plan of earthworks at Fazenda Colorada, which is made up of clear geometric shapes. Excavations suggest inhabitants lived in the three-sided square. Credit: Sanna Saunaluoma, Antiquity Journal.

Until recently, it was believed that the earthworks dated back to around 200 AD. However, the latest study has revealed that they are, in fact, much older. Study author John Francis Carson, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom, explained that sediment cores had been taken from two lakes near the major earthwork sites.  These sediment cores hold ancient pollen grains and charcoal from long-ago fires, and can reveal information about the climate and ecosystem that existed when the sediment was laid down as far back as 6,000 years ago.

The results revealed that the oldest sediments did not come from a rainforest ecosystem at all. Rather, they showed that the landscape, before about 2,000 to 3,000 years ago, looked more like the savannahs of Africa than today’s lush rainforest.

The earthworks predate the shift from savannah to rainforest, which reveals that the creators of these ditches carved them before the forest moved in around them. They continued to live in the area as it became forested, probably keeping clear regions around their structures, Carson said.

The discovery and dating of the ditches sheds new light on life in the Amazon region thousands of years ago. Previous study have stated that the area could only support small, impermanent village. Instead, it seems likely that the Amazon teemed with complex societies immersed in a rich culture and advanced enough to undertake massive construction projects which would have required a large, co-ordinated labour force. 

The questions remain as to just how many more earthworks may exist undetected under the remaining forest and what the true extent of their construction work really was.

Featured image: A ring ditch next to Laguna Granja in the Amazon of northeastern Bolivia. Credit: Heiko Prumers

By April Holloway

 

Comments

The earth suffered great changes after the collision, read this new theory carefully http://humansonthetwinplanet.tumblr.com/

angieblackmon's picture

Arthur, i checked out your site and i'm not going to lie, i didn't look at every single thing or page, but you have something pretty awesome going on there! consider starting a thread in the forums section! 

love, light and blessings

AB

Dear Editor,

Several years ago I discovered a long lost science that has been handed down for a minimum of 38,000 years which explains not only the recently discovered geoglyphs in the Amazon but all over the world.

I would like to start a dialog with you to shed further light on this ancient science. My credentials, and an explanation of the Science of Geoglyphology, can be found at:

Google - Enter "Arthur Faram" .
http://www.thefaramfoundation.com
My Book: "Ancient Signposts"
My Book: "La merica"

Here's hoping we can converse,

Arthur Faram
[email protected]
817-563-9464

Well, little by little mainline science is beginning to accept the great antiquity of society in South America.

My research indicates than there have been civilized societies in South America for millions of years. The Ica stones, which are currently not accepted by mainline science, demonstrate this.

See my blog for more about the ancient "non humans" that lived in both Americas. http:black2tell.wordpress.com. Mr. Black

Seeing as Machu Piccu and other sites around South America dont seem human made, ie; totally level mountain tops.

I think this could be Extra Terrestrials planning future monument/sites.

Especially if it "PREDATES" the rainforest!! What human life was around before that?!

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April

April Holloway is a Co-Owner, Editor and Writer of Ancient Origins. For privacy reasons, she has previously written on Ancient Origins under the pen name April Holloway, but is now choosing to use her real name, Joanna Gillan.

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