A recent study reveals that the ancient Casarabe culture in the Bolivian Amazon developed a sophisticated year-round corn cultivation system using a network of drainage canals and ponds. This innovative water management system allowed sustainable agricultural practices, challenging existing narratives about pre-Columbian societies in South America. The findings illustrate complex settlement patterns and emphasize the importance of agroforestry.
Recent research discovered that the ancient Casarabe culture in the Bolivian Amazon developed a sophisticated year-round corn cultivation system between 500 and 1400 CE. This society constructed an intricate water management network of drainage canals and artificial ponds, demonstrating a remarkable adaptation to the seasonal flooding of the region. These innovations allowed them to thrive agriculturally, supporting their communities with a stable food supply.
Lidar technology enabled researchers from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, led by Umberto Lombardo, to uncover vast earthen mounds and roads hidden beneath the forest canopy. The drainage canals helped remove excess water during the rainy season, while ponds collected water in the dry season, facilitating year-round corn growth. The dual system not only optimized farming but also illustrated a sophisticated understanding of the Amazon’s seasonal cycles.
The research findings challenge established views of early South American agriculture, highlighting the Casarabe as a complex society that engaged in what the authors describe as a “Neolithic Revolution” in the Amazon. The landscape transformations they engineered illustrate an advanced urbanism characterized by low population density yet widespread settlement. In their agricultural practices, the Casarabe selectively managed tree species to sustain forest growth while ensuring food production, contrasting sharply with the slash-and-burn methods historically attributed to Amazonian societies.
Alder Keleman Saxena, an expert not involved in the study, emphasized the impact of European diseases on Indigenous populations, which reduced the historical records of these societies. The study meticulously examined microscopic plant remains to affirm that corn was their predominant crop, providing crucial insights into their dietary practices and agricultural methods. Lombardo remarked on the enormous scale and complexity of their earthen structures, often covering areas the size of multiple football fields.
The landscape today gives limited appearances of its engineered past, but advanced technology such as lidar has unveiled its hidden complexities. It reveals a connected network of settlements and canals across vast areas, suggesting a highly organized society. The researchers assert that, rather than clearing forests, the Casarabe intentionally preserved them to maintain their diverse ecosystems while practicing agroforestry.
The discovery of the Casarabe culture’s complex agricultural systems in the Bolivian Amazon reshapes our understanding of pre-Columbian societies in South America. Their innovative methods of corn cultivation and management of natural resources demonstrate a skilled adaptation to their environment. This research not only provides historical insights but also underscores the importance of acknowledging Indigenous agricultural practices and their relevance to contemporary environmental challenges.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
