In a groundbreaking partnership, UNESCO and NASA have announced the launch of Project Terra-Antiqua, a high-tech initiative utilizing satellite-based hyperspectral LiDAR to map the dense jungles of the Guiana Shield. The mission aims to identify thousands of previously undocumented geoglyphs and earthen mounds that suggest the existence of a sophisticated, 5,000-year-old civilization capable of large-scale landscape engineering in a tropical environment.
By penetrating the thick forest canopy, the project will create high-resolution 3D models of the terrain, revealing the extent of ancient agricultural systems and urban layouts. This data will be used to grant emergency heritage protection to sites currently threatened by illegal mining and deforestation, ensuring that these invaluable chapters of human history are preserved for future study.