All articles tagged with #pre columbian
A 14th-century wooden figurine found on Baffin Island depicts a European figure, predating Columbus by 150 years. The artifact, dated to 1350, shows a person in a tunic with a cross, likely representing a Norse visitor. It is the earliest known Indigenous depiction of a European in the Western Hemisphere.
Seven ancient pre-Columbian funeral urns were discovered on human-made islands in the Brazilian Amazon, containing human bones, seeds, and animal remains, with their age and cultural origins still being studied. The urns were found after a tree fell, revealing their burial site, which was built by indigenous people to protect against floods. The discovery highlights the region's rich archaeological history and the importance of community involvement in uncovering it.
Ancient DNA analysis of prehistoric bones in Brazil has revealed the presence of the bacterium Treponema pallidum, indicating the existence of syphilis-like diseases in the Americas over 2,000 years ago, challenging the belief that Columbus brought syphilis to Europe. The findings suggest that treponematoses, including syphilis, were already widespread globally before Columbus's arrival, and recombination events have driven the development of different treponemal infections. This research sheds new light on the history and spread of infectious diseases and may lead to a better understanding of the origins of venereal syphilis.
Researchers have discovered the oldest case of a syphilis-like disease in 2,000-year-old bones found in Brazil, undermining the theory that Christopher Columbus brought syphilis to Europe. The ancient bacterial subspecies of syphilis, closely related to a modern pathogen causing a disease called bejel, suggests that treponemal diseases existed in South America long before Columbus' arrival but were not the same as the venereal disease that later struck Europe. The findings challenge the long-held Columbian hypothesis and indicate that the origins of syphilis may not be confined to just one place or time.
A team led by Stéphen Rostain used LiDAR technology to uncover a massive pre-Columbian civilization in the Amazon rainforest, challenging assumptions about the region's history. The discovery of over 6,000 raised earthen platforms covering 115 square miles, along with canals and roads, suggests a complex society of at least 10,000 inhabitants dating back to before 500 A.D. This finding opens up new avenues for archaeological investigation and prompts a reevaluation of historical narratives about the Amazon's ancient civilizations.
Severe drought in the Amazon rainforest has revealed petroglyphs carved by humans up to 2,000 years ago in the Negro River. The engravings depict humans, animals, and geometric shapes and were found at a Brazilian Cultural Heritage site. The drought has caused the river's water level to drop, exposing the petroglyphs. The age of the carvings is uncertain, but ceramics found nearby date back 2,000 years. Archaeologists are concerned about the exposure of the petroglyphs and are engaging the public in preservation efforts.
Ancient rock carvings, estimated to be between 1,000 and 2,000 years old, have been revealed on the shores of the Rio Negro in the Amazon region due to an unprecedented drought. The petroglyphs, including human faces, animals, and tool sharpening marks, were previously sighted during a severe drought in 2010 but have re-emerged this month as water levels dropped further. Fragments of ceramics dating back thousands of years have also been found at the site, which was home to large Indigenous villages in pre-Columbian times. The petroglyphs have not been studied extensively, but researchers are estimating their age based on similar carvings in other parts of the central Amazonia region.