Vast Amazonian Earthworks Reveal Scale of Ancient Aquiry Civilization

Researchers have unveiled the discovery of nearly 400 distinct earthworks scattered across the Amazon rainforest, providing compelling evidence that the ancient Aquiry civilization was significantly more extensive and sophisticated than previously understood. This groundbreaking finding, published online in the prestigious scientific journal *Nature* on July 29, 2026, under the digital object identifier 10.1038/d41586-026-02367-x, is poised to redefine our comprehension of pre-Columbian Amazonian societies.

The identified structures, which encompass a variety of forms including elevated mounds, intricate ditch systems, and defensive fortifications, point towards a highly organized and settled agrarian society. The sheer scale and distribution of these earthworks challenge long-held assumptions that the Amazon basin was primarily inhabited by small, nomadic groups prior to European arrival. Instead, the findings strongly suggest a substantial population density and a capacity for large-scale landscape modification, indicating that the Aquiry people actively shaped their environment to support their civilization.

The Aquiry civilization, named after the geographical region where many of these remarkable structures are concentrated, likely developed advanced agricultural practices and sophisticated societal structures to sustain a considerable population over an extended period. While precise dating of all the earthworks is an ongoing process, preliminary analyses indicate that their construction spanned centuries, possibly even millennia, reflecting a deep and enduring presence in the region.

This revelation carries profound implications for the study of pre-Columbian history in South America. It underscores the presence of complex, large-scale societies capable of monumental construction and significant environmental engineering in the Amazon long before the advent of European colonization. The discovery necessitates a re-evaluation of historical population estimates for the Amazon and a deeper understanding of the impact indigenous populations had on the Amazonian ecosystem. Future research endeavors will likely involve extensive archaeological excavations at selected sites to unearth more detailed information about the daily lives, social hierarchies, technological advancements, and cultural practices of the Aquiry people.

In a separate but concurrently published study within the same *Nature* issue, scientists also reported the discovery of tiny fossils representing the earliest known fossil ancestor of the squid. This dual publication highlights the expansive scope of scientific inquiry, demonstrating the interconnectedness of understanding both complex human civilizations and the deep history of marine life on Earth.