New LiDAR data from the upper Xingu River basin has revealed a previously unknown form of pre-Columbian urbanism. Researchers have identified hundreds of elevated earthen mounds that served as bases for tree-top residential platforms. These structures were connected by a sophisticated network of aerial walkways and canal systems, allowing the population to thrive in a seasonally flooded environment without traditional terrestrial roads.
The survey, conducted by the Amazonian Heritage Research Institute, suggests that these 'Arboreal Cities' housed thousands of people between 500 and 1000 CE. The digital mapping also showed large-scale fruit orchards and managed forest plots that provided a stable food supply. This discovery challenges existing models of Amazonian settlement, proving that ancient societies developed highly specialized adaptations to the rainforest canopy.