Brazilian archaeologists uncover 18th-century Portuguese village
As reported by the Greek Reporter, Brazilian archaeologists have discovered a settlement founded by the Portuguese in the 18th century in the Amazon Rainforest. The ruins of this long-abandoned village, located in the state of Rondônia, shed new light on the colonial history of the region.
Researchers from the "Amazonia Revelada" project, led by Prof. Eduardo Neves from the University of São Paulo, utilized various methods, including advanced lidar technology based on laser beams, to locate this extensive settlement. The analysis of ancient accounts from indigenous peoples also contributed to its discovery.
According to Neves's team, the Portuguese settlement was situated on the banks of the Guaporé River, in today's Costa Marques municipality. Archaeologists suspect it served as logistical support for the transport of gold, which the Portuguese floated from the north along the Mamoré and Guaporé rivers. The stone blocks discovered could have been used during the transport of these valuable cargoes.
The Neves team reported that the settlement founded by the Portuguese is today entirely covered by forest, which makes research difficult. Despite this challenge, scientists plan to continue their work in the Costa Marques municipality to determine why the settlement was suddenly abandoned by the colonizers.
An extraordinary discovery for understanding the indigenous peoples of the Amazon
This discovery is significant for understanding the interactions between European colonizers and the indigenous peoples of the Amazon. By combining modern technologies with traditional research methods, researchers can reconstruct previously unknown aspects of the region's history.
Undoubtedly, further research on this discovery could also impact the ongoing development of knowledge about the life and evolution of contemporary civilization. The discovery may also be highly significant for interested countries such as Brazil and Portugal.
