Deep in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest, an extraordinary discovery has been made: seven giant funerary urns from the pre-Columbian era. These impressive ceramic vessels, probably made centuries or even millennia ago, were discovered by chance by a fisherman in a little-known wetland in the middle reaches of the Solimoes River, along the upper reaches of the Amazon.
A fisherman stumbled upon them after a 15-meter Parikarana tree (Pithecellobium corymbosum) fell, exposing urns buried deep beneath its roots.
The age of these pre-Columbian urns remains a mystery, but their location on the artificial island gives the discovery special significance. Archaeologists from the Institute for Sustainable Development of Mamiraua (IDSM) in Brazil note that it is not yet known whether the urns were created by the same culture that built the artificial islands.
Unprecedented discovery
"Two of the largest ceramic urns - up to 89 centimeters in diameter - contained human bones, while the others contained seed mixtures and the remains of fish, frogs, and turtles," explains Georgia Leila Holanda, an IDSM archaeologist who co-directed the excavation.
It is assumed that seeds and animal remains placed in ceramic vessels were an integral part of the funerary ritual.
Holanda describes the finds as "unprecedented" in a statement from Brazil's Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation. "The large urns do not have ceramic lids, possibly because they were sealed with organic materials that have decomposed," she adds.
Although this discovery is unique, similar ceramic artifacts have been found elsewhere in the middle Solimoesnes area. However, in those cases the urns had lids "imitating a head, with structures on the sides imitating limbs," which distinguishes them from the current find.
Photo: livescience.com
Holanda notes the rarity of the greenish pottery found in these urns, although it has been found at other sites in the region. "We also found fragments with applied layers of clay on the exterior and painted red bands, although it is not yet possible to associate them with any known styles of pottery," she says.
Archaeologists already have an idea of the multi-stage nature of funeral rituals involving urns. "After death, the body was left in a basket in the river for fish to eat the soft tissues, or buried in the ground," Holanda says. "Then the separated and mixed bones were cremated and placed in funerary urns, which symbolized a new body, a new skin. Finally, many Amazon cultures buried these pots under their homes."
This indicates deeply rooted beliefs and practices related to death and the afterlife among the ancient inhabitants of the Amazon.
Archaeology in the Amazon rainforest
The month-long fieldwork that allowed the discovery and study of these funerary urns was carefully planned in collaboration with the inhabitants of the nearby settlement of Sao Lazaro do Arumandubinha, who were the first to inform the researchers of this unique find.
"This was the demand of a community that understood the historical importance of these objects," emphasizes Marcio Amaral, IDSM archaeologist and co-director of the excavation. The active participation of the local population not only facilitated access to the remote site, but also provided invaluable knowledge about the natural conditions of the region.
The community of Sao Lazaro do Aromandubinha gave valuable advice to the archaeologists regarding the timing of the work to avoid seasonal flooding, as the archaeological site known as Lago do Cochila (or Lake Cochila) is located in a flood zone with no access to solid ground.
Getting to this remote area of the Brazilian Amazon was an adventure in itself. The research team spent more than 24 hours traveling by boat along the winding Amazon River from the institute's base in Tepha to the community. They then had to canoe 18 kilometers through flooded areas, culminating in an hour-long trek on foot through the forest on a trail cut by guides using machetes.
Due to the difficult conditions in which the urns were located, excavations were carried out on a unique platform. It was raised 3 meters above the ground and constructed of wood and vines by community members. This improvised structure not only ensured the safety of the archaeologists, but also demonstrated the ingenuity and cooperation of the local population.
Photo: livescience.com
The burial urns were buried about 40 centimeters deep in an artificial island created by indigenous ancestors. These ancient engineers used the land to create this as well as other islands in the region, primarily to protect the community from flooding, according to Amaral. This shows the high level of adaptation and engineering of the ancient civilizations of the Amazon.
Now that the excavation is complete, the researchers plan to begin dating the urns, which will allow them to pinpoint their age and context. They also have additional local reports of urns at other archaeological sites in the region, including nearby artificial islands.
This information opens new perspectives for further research and a deeper understanding of ancient Amazonian cultures.