Researchers fire lasers, discover ancient Amazonian villages laid out like clocks

A study using Lidar technology revealed a network of ancient villages in the Amazon rainforest. These villages, dating from 1300 to 1700, featured circular and rectangular layouts with elongated mounds resembling sun rays. The consistent design suggests specific social models, possibly representing the cosmos. The villages had well-planned roads, indicating advanced community organization.

What method was used to discover the ancient villages in the Amazon rainforest?

• Underwater exploration

• Satellite imagery

• Helicopter surveys

• Ground excavation

During which years were the abandoned villages in the Amazon dated?

• 1300 to 1700

• 1400 to 1800

• 1200 to 1500

• 1500 to 1900

What shape did the elongated mounds in the villages resemble when viewed from above?

• Clouds

• Stars

• Moons

• Rays of the sun

What technology allowed researchers to map the landscape beneath the rainforest canopy?

• Infrared

• Lidar

• Sonar

• Radar

What was the width of the roads found in the sun villages?

• 3 meters

• 6 meters

• 9 meters

• 12 meters