By Joe Pinkstone For Mailonline
Published: 19:54 BST, 25 April 2019 | Updated: 19:54 BST, 25 April 2019
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People began forming settled societies in the Amazon rainforest as far back as 10,000 years ago, according to a new study.
A treasure trove of prehistoric finds, including the remains of five humans, was found under six feet (two metres) of dirt at three sites in Bolivia.
Teeth of the individuals were worn down, indicating they were mature adults, and it is believed they feasted on shellfish that populated the region at the time.
Traces of humans in the region have been found dating back up to 17,000 years but these people wandered through the site and stopped only briefly.
It was previously believed settlements sprung up 2,500 years ago, but this study defies this.
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Burial in Bolivia at one of the three archaeological sites was exposed during excavations. A treasure trove of prehistoric finds, including the remains of five humans and ceramic pottery, was found
Human burials exposed and recovered during the archaeological excavations during excavations. Their teeth were worn down, indicating they were mature adults, and it is believed they feasted on shellfish that populated the region at the time
José Capriles and colleagues at Pennsylvania State say the excavations unearthed male and female remains of people who lived between 6,250 and 6,820 years ago.
Radiocarbon dating was used and the researchers also discovered burnt earth, charcoal, shells and other animal remains.
Later societies dramatically transformed the region with ceremonial structures, roads and intensive agriculture.
Accumulation of apple snails in a wetland (pictured) which archaeologists believe made up a large amount of the diet of the people
Excavations at the site of La Chacra, one of the three in the study. The region would later become the focal point in the origin story of manioc, sweet potatoes, chilli peppers and peanuts
The region would later become the focal point in the origin story of manioc, sweet potatoes, chilli peppers and peanuts.
Analysis focused on three sites which the researchers claim indicates they were at the centre of stable communities with reduced mobility, intensive resource use and possibly increased territoriality.
The researchers write in the study, published in the journal Science Advances: 'The teeth of all individuals were complete and heavily worn, which suggests that most individuals were older adults.'
They claim they lived on a diet mainly of fish and the presence of gastropod shells suggests the area was a wetland where they collected shellfish for food.
The authors add in the paper: 'The unprecedented findings reported here suggest that tropical foragers thrived and eventually generated enough environmental impact to leave
