Over two decades ago, archaeologist Stéphen Rostain first observed a series of earthen mounds and buried roads in Ecuador, unsure of their interconnected significance.
However, recent mapping using laser-sensor technology has unveiled these sites as part of a dense network of settlements and connecting roadways nestled in the forested foothills of the Andes, enduring for approximately 1,000 years.
Described as a “lost valley of cities” by Rostain, who leads investigations at France’s National Center for Scientific Research, the settlements belonged to the Upano people from around 500 B.C. to 300 to 600 A.D. – a period aligning with the Roman Empire in Europe.
More than 6,000 earthen mounds supported residential and ceremonial structures, surrounded by agricultural fields equipped with drainage canals, France 24 has reported.
The extensive roads, some reaching 33 feet (10 meters) in width and spanning 6 to 12 miles (10 to 20 kilometers), were key features.
While estimating populations is challenging, the site housed a minimum of 10,000 inhabitants, potentially reaching peaks of 15,000 to 30,000, according to archaeologist Antoine Dorison, a co-author of the study from the same French institute.
This compares to the estimated population of Roman-era London, then the largest city in Britain.
Written by B.C. Begley
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B.C. Begley 