Fascinating stuff! A peer-reviewed Nature study led by Martti Pärssinen at the University of Helsinki has detected 432 earthworks across 4,500 sq km in Acre state, Brazil — 396 of them previously undocumented. Extrapolation suggests a staggering 24,000-30,000 earthworks total, all built by the Akari (Aari) civilization between ~600 BC and ~850 AD, with an estimated peak population of 1.25-3 million around 100-300 AD.
Study detects 432 Amazon earthworks, estimates 24,000-30,000 built by Akari civilization
Key facts
- Peer-reviewed Nature study led by Martti Pärssinen at the University of Helsinki
- 432 earthworks detected across 4,500 square kilometres in Acre state, Brazil
- 396 of the 432 earthworks were previously undocumented
- Extrapolation suggests 24,000 to 30,000 earthworks total across the region
- Earthworks were built by the Akari (Aari) civilization
- The civilization emerged around 600 BC and abandoned the sites by roughly 850 AD
- Population estimated at 1.25 to 3 million at peak between 100 and 300 AD, based on an estimate of approximately 300 people to build and maintain each earthwork
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