indigenous-agroforestry

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Ancient DNA Reveals Pre-Columbian Amazonian Forest Management at Scale

PubMed · 2026-02-25

Ancient DNA extracted from Amazonian sediment cores shows that indigenous peoples deliberately cultivated and managed at least 38 tree species across the landscape for more than 4,500 years — meaning the Amazon 'wilderness' is, in large part, a vast inherited garden.

Ancient DNA from 12 sediment core sites identified 38 domesticated tree species concentrated near pre-Columbian settlement sites.

Forest management by indigenous peoples dates back at least 4,500 years, predating European contact by millennia.

Species composition in ancient cores directly matches today's 'dark earth' (terra preta) forests, confirming continuity between ancient cultivation and modern forest structure.

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eco Cacao

Brazil Nut

indigenous-agroforestry

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