Exploration of Ancient Amazonian Landscapes Reveals Agricultural Innovations

In September 2021, a team of specialists embarked on an expedition to the Great Tectonic Lakes of Exaltacion in the Beni department of Bolivia, one of the least-documented areas of the Bolivian Amazon.

The expedition was organized by the Grupo de Trabajo para los Llanos de Moxos, or GTLM, and included experts from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the National Museum of Natural History, the Institute of Ecology, the Biodiversity and Environment Research Center, the Aquatic Resources Research Center, and the Department of Anthropology of the Americas at the University of Bonn.

This exploration revealed the Lakes Rogaguado and Ginebra, which showcase a landscape transformed by generations of human innovation. Beneath the grasslands and shallow waters lie extensive earthworks, raised agricultural fields, and interconnected canals, indicating a long history of adaptation to a dynamic environment.

These lakes are part of the Municipal Protected Area of Grandes Lagos Tectonicos de Exaltacion and contribute to the Rio Yata Ramsar wetland complex, recognized by UNESCO for its ecological and cultural significance.

The research team utilized surveys, excavations, and LiDAR imaging to document archaeological sites such as Paquio, Coquinal, Isla del Tesoro, and Jasschaja, each representing different stages of habitation in the region.

Radiocarbon dating indicates a history of repeated occupation from approximately 600 to 1400 CE. At Paquio, the evidence shows early settlement around 600 CE, with an intensified occupation phase between 1000 and 1200 CE, characterized by shell middens, dense ceramic refuse, and sophisticated canal systems linked to maize farming.

Jasschaja, dating from 1300 to 1400 CE, reveals alterations in the landscape and increased botanical diversity, suggesting a focus on forest and crop management. The Llanos de Moxos terrain features geometric forms, including circular and rectangular ditches, drainage channels, and raised planting platforms, designed for water control and cultivation.

These structures regulated seasonal flooding and facilitated stable living and farming areas in a fluctuating wetland environment. Excavations revealed a diverse pre-Hispanic diet, including fish like wolf fish and peacock bass, reptiles, mammals, and various plant species such as maize and legumes, indicating a balanced subsistence strategy.

The Cayubaba and Movima communities, who continue to inhabit these landscapes, embody a unique biocultural heritage, maintaining ecological and cultural diversity over generations. Collaboration with these communities, especially the Cayubaba Indigenous Council, was crucial during the research, ensuring that local knowledge informed the study.

The archaeological findings underscore the significance of sustainable land-use traditions in the face of modern challenges like deforestation and climate change. The evidence from the lakes illustrates that ancient communities practiced flexible living strategies that harmonized farming, fishing, and forest management.

These historical practices challenge contemporary notions of development and highlight the resilience found in diversity. Protecting the biocultural heritage of the Llanos de Moxos, which still supports rich biodiversity and carbon storage, is a global responsibility.

The research asserts that archaeology not only explores the past but also connects ancient wisdom to present-day sustainability and environmental justice discussions.