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This time from my own old stamping ground, the Amazon.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4767717.stm
Now this is really exciting! For decades, the prevailing opinion was that major civilizations had never lived in Amazonia because living conditions made it too difficult. Current archaeologists working in the area now almost all discount this, theorizing that maybe as many as 80 million people inhabited the area in pre-Colombian times, living in thriving cities, now all gone after European introduced disease killed 95% or more of the population.
Aside from tribal tales and mythology, some areas with unusually rich soils, a lot of pottery and many old roads (found on satellite images), there's been very little material evidence - hence the excitement over this discovery!
But now I must get myself a beer and watch Doctor Who...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4767717.stm
Now this is really exciting! For decades, the prevailing opinion was that major civilizations had never lived in Amazonia because living conditions made it too difficult. Current archaeologists working in the area now almost all discount this, theorizing that maybe as many as 80 million people inhabited the area in pre-Colombian times, living in thriving cities, now all gone after European introduced disease killed 95% or more of the population.
Aside from tribal tales and mythology, some areas with unusually rich soils, a lot of pottery and many old roads (found on satellite images), there's been very little material evidence - hence the excitement over this discovery!
But now I must get myself a beer and watch Doctor Who...
excited
Too cool for subject