A New Perspective on the Amazonia

Contrary to popular belief, the Amazonia forest has never been an uninhabited wilderness. Thanks to aerial technologies such as LIDAR, Stéphen Rostain and his colleagues have uncovered impressive structures: thousands of earth mounds, perfectly straight roads, raised fields, and even interconnected garden cities, all evidence of a sophisticated human presence.

A key aspect of the archaeologist’s work lies in interdisciplinarity and collaboration with Indigenous communities. “We have long refused to listen to these peoples,” he pointed out, emphasising the growing importance of an archaeology that integrates oral traditions and soil sciences to rewrite the history of the Amazonia with greater accuracy.

Beyond these discoveries, an alarming reality was also discussed: the accelerating destruction of the Amazonia. Massive deforestation, uncontrolled wildfires, and climate change are threatening this unique and fragile ecosystem, to the point where we may have already crossed a critical threshold.

This evening was an invitation to change our perspective—to see the Amazonia not just as a forest or an empty land to be exploited, but as a living continent, rich in history and knowledge that must be preserved.

Stéphen Rostain, is a research director at the CNRS and a French archaeologist who has dedicated over forty years of his life to the Amazonia. In 2023, he chaired the International Congress of Amazonian Archaeology in Quito. In 2008, he was awarded the Clio Prize for his French archaeological projects abroad.

Caroline Lachowsky, journalist, producer for over 7 years of the scientific programme Autour de la Question on Radio France Internationale. One hour of live interviews with researchers from all disciplines and backgrounds on the mutations and evolutions of our humanity.