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Sparse pre-Columbian human habitation in western Amazonia
C H McMichael1, D R Piperno, M B Bush
1Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Institute of Technology, Melbourne, FL 32901, USA. cmcmicha@my.fit.edu
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|June 16, 2012
Summary
Pre-Columbian human impacts on western Amazonian terra firme forests were minimal and localized. Soil analysis revealed sparse evidence of occupation, suggesting heterogeneous human influence across the Amazon Basin.
Area of Science:
- Amazonian archaeology
- Paleoenvironmental science
- Soil science
Background:
- Pre-Columbian human occupation significantly modified central and eastern Amazonian forests.
- The extent of human impact on western Amazonian terra firme (interfluvial) zones remains poorly understood.
Observation:
- Soil samples from 55 sites across central and western Amazonia were analyzed.
- Researchers looked for charcoal and phytoliths indicative of human activity and agricultural or disturbance species.
Findings:
- Pre-Columbian human impacts on interfluvial forests were small, infrequent, and highly localized.
- Sparse charcoal and a lack of specific phytoliths suggest minimal human modification.
- No human artifacts or modified soils were found, and riverine areas showed less disturbance than expected.
Implications:
- Human impacts on Amazonian forests were not uniform, varying significantly across the landscape.
- This challenges assumptions of widespread, uniform pre-Columbian forest modification in the Amazon.
- Understanding landscape heterogeneity is crucial for Amazonian paleoenvironmental reconstructions.
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