Lidar Technology Unveils Ancient Aquiry Civilization Structures in the Amazon
Researchers have uncovered thousands of ancient structures in the southwestern Amazon using Lidar technology, revealing the existence of the Aquiry civilization. This discovery, published in the journal Nature, was made possible by airborne Lidar, which can penetrate dense rainforest canopies to map the Earth's surface. The study, conducted by Finnish and Brazilian scientists, suggests that between 1.25 and 3 million people lived in this region during the first centuries AD. The Lidar mapping campaign covered over 4,400 kilometers in Brazil's Acre state, identifying 347 earthworks within a 2,380 square kilometer area. The findings indicate that the Aquiry civilization's territory may have spanned approximately 183,000 square kilometers, significantly larger than previously estimated. The structures, primarily geometric enclosures, are believed to have served ceremonial or public functions, highlighting the complexity and organizational capabilities of this ancient society. 
