A study reveals that the ancient Casarabe culture in Bolivia developed a complex year-round corn-growing system using drainage canals and ponds. This advanced agricultural practice reflects sophisticated societies that thrived in the Amazon, previously obscured by forest and the impacts of European diseases. The research shows they practiced agroforestry, preserving the ecosystem while ensuring food security for large populations, challenging previous assumptions about early Amazonian agriculture.
A recent study reveals that the ancient Amazonians of the Casarabe culture, who thrived between 500 and 1400 CE in what is now modern Bolivia, developed an advanced system of water management. This innovative system comprised drainage canals and artificial ponds that facilitated the cultivation of corn year-round. These findings significantly impact our understanding of early agricultural practices in South America, highlighting the complexity of ancient societies in the Amazon.
The researchers, led by Umberto Lombardo from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, discovered evidence of this sophisticated agricultural network through advanced lidar technology, which unveiled massive earthen structures and the layout of canals previously concealed by the forest. During the rainy seasons, the Casarabe effectively drained excessive water using these canals, while the artificial ponds served to retain water for irrigation during dry spells, ensuring a year-round corn supply.
Lombardo commented on the nature of the ponds saying, “The pond itself is cultivated…the maize was cultivated on the edges of the pond.” This intricate management allowed the Casarabe culture to experience what some researchers are calling a “Neolithic Revolution” in the Amazon, characterized by grain production supporting larger populations and complex social structures.
Extensive mapping and microfossil analyses for the study revealed that corn was a staple in the diet of this pre-Columbian society, reinforcing the perspective that the Casarabe were not only adept farmers but also builders. They constructed monumental earthen mounds, some as large as 20 football fields, which remained hidden beneath the forest cover until recently uncovered by lidar technology.
The settlements of the Casarabe displayed a form of “low-density urbanism,” where cities were dispersed rather than centralized. As Lombardo notes, this complex societal structure included expansive areas resembling cities spread across tens of square kilometers, displaying a low population density compared to European cities.
The historical narrative of the Amazon has often been obscured by the catastrophic impacts of European diseases that decimated Indigenous populations before their sophisticated societies could be recorded. Keleman Saxena highlights the need to rethink our approach to understanding these societies, as many records were lost due to pandemics that eradicated around 90% of Indigenous populations.
Contrary to the assumptions of deforestation, the Casarabe people practiced agroforestry, selectively enhancing the growth of useful trees while maintaining the forest ecosystem intact. Their agricultural methods did not involve slash-and-burn tactics; evidence of charcoal or fire was absent in the forest samples analyzed.
Lombardo concluded, “Now, the consensus is that mostly of the Amazon, the type of pre-Columbian land use was mostly agroforestry.” He emphasized that the Casarabe maintained the forest for valuable resources without extensive deforestation, thus allowing contemporary researchers to understand the ecological management strategies of the Amazon’s Indigenous cultures.
The study ultimately demonstrates that these landscapes, now overgrown, were once vibrant urban centers employing sophisticated agroecological techniques that sustained large communities. Keleman Saxena states that the findings shed light on possibilities for sustainable living amid the current climate crisis, while recognizing the enduring legacy of Indigenous peoples in these territories.
The research underscores that the Casarabe culture mastered innovative agricultural practices and maintained the Amazon’s forest ecosystem rather than clearing it. By utilizing advanced water management systems, they cultivated corn year-round, supporting large populations and complex communities. These findings not only enrich our understanding of ancient Amazonian societies but also inform contemporary discussions on sustainable living and the significance of Indigenous land stewardship.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
