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USP Researchers Discover 18th Century Portuguese City in the Amazon Rainforest. Understand the Importance of the Discovery for the History of the Amazon
A team of researchers, led by archaeologist Eduardo Neves, director of the Museum of Archaeology and Ethnography at the University of São Paulo (USP), made a surprising discovery in the heart of the Amazon: the ruins of an ancient 18th century Portuguese city, which had been lost for centuries in the midst of the tropical forest.
It is believed that the settlement was founded during the colonial period, when the Portuguese Crown sought to expand its presence in the Amazon region as a means to consolidate its territorial dominance and exploit the area’s natural resources. The lost city, now rediscovered, could shed new light on European occupation in Northern Brazil and reveal little-known details about the interaction between colonizers and local indigenous peoples.
In this article, we will understand the details of this historic discovery, the methods used by the researchers, what is already known about the lost city, and how it may rewrite important parts of the country’s history.
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18th Century Portuguese City Was Abandoned
The initial results from the researchers’ study were presented at an event at the Amazon Museum, located in Manaus, as part of the Amazônia Revelada project, which brings together leading experts in the region and among the forest peoples, including quilombolas.
The 18th century Portuguese city, which appeared on ancient maps of the Amazon rainforest, had disappeared over time. Neves explained that it was abandoned, allowing the forest to engulf it and the stones to be removed. However, with the help of maps, the researchers were able to identify the layout of the city’s streets, which was a fascinating discovery.
In the state of Rondônia, the researchers found an impressive stone structure, known as Serra da Muralha. According to Neves, at the site, it is possible to see other geometric formations on the ground, such as circles, squares, and even remnants of what once were roads. According to the researcher, it is very difficult to find masonry or stone constructions in the Amazon, making the 18th century Portuguese city even more special.
Additionally, in the state, the team was also responsible for the discovery of an archaeological site with ceramics and reticulated patterns. Neves further explains that it is still unknown what the formations found are.
They could be habitation sites or agricultural areas, but it will be necessary to return to the site for investigation to better understand. This type of structure is well known in other places, such as in Bolivia; however, this is the first time it has been found in an Amazon rainforest.
Understand Why a City Was Built in the Amazon
The lost 18th century Portuguese city is linked to a colonial construction, as Brazilian territory was under Portuguese rule. Although Portuguese colonization is more associated with coastal regions, such as the Southeast and Northeast, the presence of the European country here also expanded into the interior of the country, including the Amazon.
This Portuguese initiative in the Amazon rainforest was encouraged by several factors, such as the search for riches like gold or herbs from the countryside, the desire to occupy and strengthen control over vast areas, and the need to control trade routes and establish defense outposts.
Religious missions also played a fundamental role in the interiorization of colonization, especially in the Amazon, where Jesuits and other religious groups devoted themselves to evangelizing and “civilizing” the peoples of the Amazon region.
Understand the Importance of the Discovery
In the Amazon, the presence of the Portuguese was consolidated from the 17th century, with the founding of forts, such as Fort Presépio (now Belém do Pará) in 1616, and villages to protect the territory from foreign invasions, mainly from the Dutch, French, and Spanish.
Thus, although colonization had its epicenter on the coast, the advance of the Portuguese into the interior, including the Amazon region, was a fundamental part of the expansion of colonial Brazil.
The discovery of the lost 18th century Portuguese city in the Amazon rainforest reflects the process of expansion and colonization in the region. It could have been a trading post or a strategic fortification, considering that the region had military, economic, and religious importance for the colonizers. Furthermore, it also illustrates how there is still much to be discovered in the Amazon region.
Acredito que é mentira
António Português em Rondonópolis comenta que cultura Portuguesa espalhada pelo mundo e uma mais valia e enriquecimento de valores .António com 6 anos visitou palácio de Queluz em Lisboa a casa do imperador do Brasil E e reconhecido pelos correios onde verefica abandono do património António faz apelos que essa mais valia da língua portuguesa espalhada pelo mundo.
Importante descoberta! A história do Brasil é muito pouco explorada e divulgada.