LiDAR reveals a 2,500-year-old urban civilization in the region of Cueva de los Tayos
LiDAR research in the Upano Valley, Ecuador, revealed a 2,500-year-old urban network containing 7,500 structures, roads, and canals — the oldest and most complex known Amazonian civilization. This discovery, published in the journal Science and further explored by BBC Future, indicates that the region of Cueva de los Tayos was inhabited by sophisticated civilizations much earlier than previously imagined. The finding transforms our understanding of the pre-Columbian Amazon and reinforces the sacred character of this region.






