The historic drought affecting the Amazon region has revealed four archaeological sites in the state of Amazonas, three of which were completely unknown and are of great importance. The National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (Iphan) has implemented an emergency action plan, involving inspections and educational initiatives in partnership with various public agencies and social organizations, including the Soka Institute of the Amazon, which voluntarily dedicates itself to the preservation of local cultural and environmental heritage.
The current drought is considered the most severe in the last 121 years and has affected several states in the Legal Amazon, especially Amazonas. Record-low river levels have left several communities isolated, as access to them is exclusively by river. For example, the Negro River, near the capital city of Manaus, reached its lowest level, dropping below 13 meters. As a result of this drastic drop in river levels, four archaeological sites emerged, including one previously known and three discovered for the first time.
The previously identified site is Ponta das Lajes, in Manaus, which reappeared for the second time, the first being during the 2010 drought. With an estimated chronology of between one thousand and two thousand years ago, this site contains petroglyphs—inscriptions on stone blocks representing human figures, mostly faces. Additionally, the site features carvings and a lithic workshop area with remains of ancient tools, such as hand axes, indicating its historical significance.
New Discoveries
Among the three previously unknown sites is Fort São Francisco Xavier in Tabatinga (AM), built in the 18th century on the banks of the Solimões River, marking the triple border between Brazil, Colombia, and Peru. This fort was the final stop for vessels navigating the Solimões River toward the Andes during the colonial period, representing the influence of the Portuguese Crown in the Amazon region.
Built from robust timber, the fort had an irregular hexagonal shape and housed nine artillery pieces, five of which are still preserved. Iphan technicians recently inspected the ruins to include them in the National Register of Archaeological Sites (CNSA).
The second site is Costa do Goiabeira, located in Anamã, 160 km from Manaus. During the drought, ceramic funerary urns emerged. The third site, located in Urucará, 260 km from the capital on the banks of the Uatumã River, contains petroglyphs similar to those found at Ponta das Lajes, depicting stone carvings. Both sites in Anamã and Urucará are not yet registered in the CNSA, and research visits in collaboration with local institutions are planned for the coming weeks.
Iphan's Actions and Collaboration with Other Institutions
To ensure the preservation of the archaeological sites, Iphan's technical team has been conducting inspections since the discovery of the Ponta das Lajes site. In collaboration with the Soka Institute of the Amazon, educational activities were carried out in Manaus to raise community awareness about the importance of archaeological heritage. To protect these assets, Iphan requested the support of the Federal Police and the Municipal Secretariat of Public Security, which will conduct regular patrols in and around the site.
Given the emergency situation and the risk of losing valuable information, Iphan invited several institutions to form a working group to develop a protocol for preserving archaeological heritage. This protocol will be essential for the shared management of these assets, involving culture, education, cultural heritage, and security agencies. The group's work is set to begin next week.
Via Iphan.
This article was written by ArchDaily Team. The translation is powered by AI.
