In a remote area of Brazil’s Upper Amazon, the excavation of seven massive funerary urns has uncovered significant insights into Indigenous history. Found beneath the roots of a fallen tree in the Middle Solimões region at Lago do Cochila, these urns showcase the intricate traditions and practices of ancient Indigenous societies that once inhabited the Amazon floodplains.
The urns were buried about 40 centimeters deep in elevated land, which had been carefully constructed by these societies. This evidence of artificial islands, comprising mixed earth and ceramic waste, suggests advanced land management and permanent settlements, contradicting previous beliefs that the area was only seasonally occupied.
Archaeologist Márcio Amaral described this as “native engineering of unparalleled sophistication,” highlighting the complex relationship between these communities and their landscape. Unlike typical excavation sites, the rainforest posed unique challenges.
Archaeologists devised a wooden platform elevated more than three meters above the ground to facilitate the excavation. This innovative approach was necessary due to the wet conditions and the height of the urns.
Inside the urns, archaeologists found not only disarticulated human bones but also remains of fish, turtles, and seeds, reflecting complex funeral rituals. Co-lead archaeologist Geórgea Layla Holanda suggested that these offerings represent a symbolic transformation, possibly marking the deceased’s passage to a new life.
The absence of ceramic lids indicates the possible use of decayed organic materials for sealing, pointing to unique ritual practices. Remarkably, this discovery stemmed from the keen observations of local fishers rather than high-tech mapping initiatives.
Community member Walfredo Cerqueira recognized the significance of the urns after a tree fell, leading to a collaboration with Mamirauá archaeologists. The local São Lázaro do Arumandubinha people played a vital role in the excavation by navigating through waterways and assisting with the physical work.
The urns, made from an unusual greenish clay and adorned with red-painted bands, challenge existing categorizations of Amazonian material culture. This discovery suggests the possibility of an unrecorded Indigenous group or an atypical cultural variant, reshaping previous understandings of Amazonian history.
As researchers continue to study these urns, they hope to uncover whether such elaborate burial practices were commonplace, further illuminating the rich and organized societies deeply attuned to the Amazon rainforest.