Were Mysterious Ancient Man-Made Earthworks In The Amazon Forest Ritual Communication Spaces?

AncientPages.com - More than 2,000 years ago people in the Amazon forest constructed hundreds of mysterious earthworks, but for what purpose?

Some theories have been put forward, but the truth is the ancient earthworks remain an unsolved puzzle.

The earthwork ditches form geometric patterns, such as squares, circles, U-forms, ellipses and octagons. They can be several meters deep and enclose areas of hundreds of square meters.

The Brazilian state of Acre is home to more than 450 mysterious earthworks called geoglyphs, most built sometime between 2,000 and 650 years ago. Credit: Diego Gurgel

Archaeologists don’t think the earthworks were part of some villages because very few artifacts have been unearthed during excavations.

The layout doesn’t suggest they were built for defensive reasons. It is thought they were used only sporadically, perhaps as ritual gathering places.

Ancient Ritual Communication Spaces

According to a recent study conducted by researchers from the University of Helsinki, these pre-colonial geometric earthworks were once important ritual communication spaces.

Scientists suggest the sites were once important ritual spaces where, through the geometric designs, certain members of the community communicated with various beings of the environment, such as ancestor spirits, animals, and celestial bodies.

Sá and Seu Chiquinho sites featuring circular, square, and U-shaped earthworks. Image credit: Sanna Saunaluoma

Thus, people were constantly reminded that human life was intertwined with the environment and previous generations. People did not distinguish themselves from nature, but nonhumans enabled and produced life.

The geometric earthwork sites were especially used by the experts of that era, who specialized in the interaction with the nonhuman beings.

Geometric Patterns Acted As Portals

The sites were important for members of the community at certain stages of life, and the various geometric patterns acted as "doors" and "paths" to gain the knowledge and strength of the different beings of the environment. Visualization and active interactions with nonhuman beings were constructive for these communities.

Ancient Urns from the Amazon.

The geometric patterns inspired by characteristics and skin patterns of animals still materialize the thinking of indigenous people of Amazonia and are also present in their modern pottery, fabrics, jewelry, and arts.

As the theories of Amerindian visual art also show, geometric patterns can provide people with desired qualities and abilities, such as fertility, resistance, knowledge, and power.

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