Pre-Columbian land use and its modern legacy in the Purus-Madeira Interfluve, Central Amazonia
To combat environmental degradation and change, it is imperative that the rainforests are protected and sustainable land use practices are developed in Amazonia. A better understanding of the role of humans in shaping Amazonian environments and the extent to which the forests have been resilient to anthropogenic disturbance is critical to determining the current state of these ecosystems. This research provides the first reconstruction of late pre-Columbian to early post-Columbian land use and its environmental legacy in the Purus-Madeira Interfluve, Central Amazonia. Soil profile samples were collected across a transect approximately 600 km in length between Manaus and HumaitaÌ, covering a large ecological gradient from dense canopy forests to open canopy forests, as well as dry, upland areas (terra firme) and small riverine settings. Archaeobotanical phytolith and terrestrial palaeoecological samples were analysed from four contexts: (i) primary forests; (ii) oligarchic forests dominated by economically useful trees in the terra firme rainforest on natural soils; (iii) an anthropogenic forest with Brazil nut trees on anthropogenic soil; and (iv) a previously undocumented archaeological site next to the
Gonda, R.
phytolith ; archaeobotany ; Amazonia ; Amazon ; archaeology ; environment
Pre-Columbian land use and its modern legacy in the Purus-Madeira Interfluve, Central Amazonia. To combat environmental degradation and change, it is imperative that the rainforests are protected and sustainable land use practices are developed in Amazonia. A better understanding of the role of humans in shaping Amazonian environments and the extent to which the forests have been resilient to anthropogenic disturbance is critical to determining the current state of these ecosystems. This research provides the first reconstruction of late pre-Columbian to early post-Columbian land use and its environmental legacy in the Purus-Madeira Interfluve, Central Amazonia. Soil profile samples were collected across a transect approximately 600 km in length between Manaus and HumaitaÌ, covering a large ecological gradient from dense canopy forests to open canopy forests, as well as dry, upland areas (terra firme) and small riverine settings. Archaeobotanical phytolith and terrestrial palaeoecological samples were analysed from four contexts: (i) primary forests; (ii) oligarchic forests dominated by economically useful trees in the terra firme rainforest on natural soils; (iii) an anthropogenic forest with Brazil nut trees on anthropogenic soil; and (iv) a previously undocumented archaeological site next to the
pre_columbian land_use modern legacy central combat environmental degradation change imperative protect sustainable land_use practice develop well role human shape amazonian environment extent forest anthropogenic disturbance critical determine current_state ecosystem provide_first reconstruction late_pre early post land_use environmental legacy central soil_profile sample_collect across transect approximately length cover large ecological gradient dense canopy forest open canopy forest well dry upland area terra small riverine setting archaeobotanical phytolith terrestrial palaeoecological sample analyse context primary forest forest dominate economically useful tree terra natural soil iii anthropogenic forest brazil tree anthropogenic soil previously undocumented archaeological_site next