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December 2, 2008 9:32:57 PM CST

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In Remote Amazon, Complex Towns Once Flourished

Archaeologists see advanced civilization in areas since overtaken by rain forest

BBC BBC Aug 29, 08 2:50 PM CDT
(Newser) - Researchers have unearthed remains of densely populated, complex urban towns in a remote region of the Amazon River Basin, the BBC reports. In an area of western Brazil thought to be virgin forest, researchers found extensive and advanced human activity, including roads, farming, wetland management, and what appear to be fish farms built prior to Europeans landing in the 15th century. More »

More about:  Brazil • archaeology • Amazon rainforest • rainforest • anthropology • ancient cities

 Sahara Yields Ancient Cemetery 

Find shows desert was once lush, green, populated

National Geographic National Geographic Aug 15, 08 2:13 PM CDT
(Newser) - Explorers hunting for dinosaur bones have found a Stone Age cemetery deep in the Sahara desert, National Geographic reports. The team of paleontologists discovered bones from two separate ancient human cultures that lived in the region as long as 10,000 years ago, when monsoon rains turned parts of the desert lush and green. More »

More about:  archaeology • paleontology • desert • cemetery • ancient cities • Sahara • Niger

 New Findings Shatter
 Old Mayan Theories 

Decades of local disasters slowly undermined their cities

USA Today USA Today Jun 23, 08 6:59 PM CDT
(Newser) - Some experts want to drain Mayan history of its high drama—the sudden collapse, and desperate migration—to tell a longer, slower story, USA Today reports. Classic history claims that Mayan cities imploded quickly around 900 AD, and their people trekked north to colonize in the Yucatan—but experts now say that Mayans had already lived there for 1,000 years. More »

More about:  Mexico • archaeology • ancient cities • Mayans

Archaeologists Unearth Pre-Inca Temple

'Sacred ceremonial nature' of site surprises researchers

Associated Press Associated Press Mar 16, 08 6:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - Archaeologists have dug up a pre-Incan temple that sheds light on a lost Peruvian culture, the AP reports. Nestled in a mountain region, the sprawling site housed the Killke people as they fended off an encroaching Spanish empire around 1200 AD. Evidence of mummies and idols shows that the Killke were not only warriors but had a "sacred ceremonial nature," one researcher said. More »

More about:  archaeology • Peru • discovery • ancient cities • Inca

Ancient Plaza Found in Peru

Site may be oldest urban structure in the Americas

Reuters Reuters Feb 26, 08 1:50 PM CST
(Newser) - Archaeologists in Peru have unearthed one of the oldest structures in the Americas, Reuters reports. Carbon dating indicates the ceremonial plaza in Casma is 5,500 years old, scientists at the dig say. That's 500 years older than the nearby ancient citadel of Caral, previously thought be Peru’s oldest ruins. "It's an impressive find," said the project's supervisor. More »

More about:  archaeology • Peru • discovery • Lima • ancient cities

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