Missouri State archaeologists Dr. Daniel Pierce and Dr. Christopher Bodine used NASA LiDAR and field verification to confirm large geometric geoglyphs in the Brazilian Amazon. The formations—circles and squares hundreds of feet wide—are preliminarily dated to about 1,000–2,000 years ago, indicating organized societies that reshaped the landscape. Researchers say the discovery challenges assumptions about Amazonian inhabitation and warn that deforestation and fires are destroying sites before they can be documented.
'This Is a Big Deal': LiDAR Reveals Ancient Amazon Civilization, Missouri State Archaeologists Confirm
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Archaeologists from Missouri State University say they have confirmed a previously unknown ancient civilization deep in Brazil's Amazon by combining NASA-collected LiDAR data with on-the-ground fieldwork.
Dr. Daniel Pierce and Dr. Christopher Bodine identified vast geometric earthworks—known as geoglyphs—after using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) scans to digitally remove the forest canopy. The data revealed large, apparently man-made shapes, including circles and squares, some measuring hundreds of feet across.
The pair traveled to the region to ground-truth the remote-sensing results and report that the formations are genuine and ancient. Preliminary dating places the site roughly between 1,000 and 2,000 years old, suggesting an organized society capable of large-scale landscape modification without metal tools or modern machinery.
Why This Discovery Matters
This finding challenges long-standing assumptions that the dense Amazon rainforest was inhospitable to complex, settled societies. Emerging ecological and archaeological research indicates parts of the Amazon may historically have been more open and managed by people, allowing for agriculture, permanent settlements, and coordinated construction projects.
'Probably the strongest feeling was relief. Like—oh, we were right. We weren't crazy,' Pierce said, describing the confirmation after fieldwork.
'It's one of those moments you hope for when you become an archaeologist,' Bodine added.
Threats and Next Steps
The researchers warn that ongoing deforestation and increasingly frequent fires are destroying archaeological sites—sometimes before scientists can document them. 'We're losing entire civilizations without ever knowing they existed,' Pierce said.
The team is preparing a peer-reviewed paper and plans expanded LiDAR surveys across the region to identify additional sites and better understand the scale and organization of these ancient communities.
Note: The findings are preliminary and pending full peer-review and publication.
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