Upano Valley sites

The Upano Valley sites in the Amazon rainforest of eastern Ecuador represent a significant archaeological discovery of ancient Amazonian societies. These sites, believed to be inhabited as early as 500 BCE, encompass a cluster of settlements spread over 300 square kilometers. Characterized by their rectangular platforms constructed atop flattened hills, these settlements included residential and ceremonial structures, interconnected by a system of roads. The presence of ditches suggests a need for defense. Surrounding agricultural lands, with terraces and irrigation canals, supported crops like corn and sweet potatoes. The decline and eventual abandonment of the sites between 300 and 600 CE may be linked to volcanic activity. The Upano Valley sites challenge prior understandings of pre-Columbian societies in the Amazon, offering insights into the complex agricultural and social systems that once thrived in this region.