A recent archaeological discovery has revealed that an ancient pre-Columbian society in the Amazon region successfully developed a sophisticated agricultural engineering system that allowed them to cultivate maize continuously throughout the year. This discovery, made by a team of researchers from the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA-UAB) and the Department of Prehistory at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, in collaboration with various universities from the United Kingdom and Brazil, as well as Bolivian experts, challenges previous theories that dismissed the possibility of intensive monoculture agriculture in this tropical region.

According to the study published in the prestigious journal Nature, the Pre-Hispanic Casarabe civilization, which settled in the Llanos de Moxos in Bolivia between 500 and 1400 AD, devised and implemented an innovative landscape management system. This agricultural engineering model included the construction of extensive drainage canals and agricultural ponds, which enabled the transformation of the inhospitable flooded tropical savannas into highly productive fertile lands.

Thanks to this system, the necessary conditions were created for the development of what experts have called the “Neolithic Revolution” in the Amazon, understood as the process of transition toward an economy based on cereal production.

Casarabe Civilization Engineering Bolivia
Artwork of the ponds described in the paper. Credit: Julian Puig Guevara

The environment inhabited by the Casarabe people was characterized by a low tropical plain subject to intense rainy seasons that caused flooding, alternating with periods of extreme drought. The research, led by environmental archaeologist Umberto Lombardo, has identified an unprecedented agricultural infrastructure in other parts of the world. This system allowed excess water to be drained from fields during the rainy season, preventing waterlogging and improving agricultural productivity. At the same time, the construction of agricultural ponds functioned as water reservoirs, enabling controlled flood irrigation and ensuring the continuity of maize cultivation even during the driest months.

The combination of these two water management mechanisms allowed the Casarabe people to obtain at least two maize harvests per year, ensuring a stable food supply throughout the year, which was essential for maintaining a relatively large population. Lombardo highlights that this intensive agricultural strategy not only proves that maize was systematically cultivated but also suggests that it was likely the staple food of the Casarabe culture.

Unlike other traditional models based on slash-and-burn techniques for creating fertile soils, the Casarabe opted for a more sustainable strategy, preserving nearby forests for firewood and medicinal plants while applying practices that maximized efficiency in water and soil nutrient use in the floodplain savannas.

Casarabe Civilization Engineering Bolivia
Another image of the ponds created by the Casarabe. Credit: Umberto Lombardo

The results of this research were obtained through meticulous fieldwork that combined microbotanical analysis, remote sensing, and environmental archaeology. The study of 178 phytolith and pollen samples extracted from the agricultural ponds confirmed the predominant presence of maize in the fields, reaffirming its central role in the diet of this pre-Columbian society. The data show the absence of other crops, underscoring the importance of maize monoculture, Lombardo notes.

Until now, it was believed that pre-Columbian agriculture in the Amazon was based exclusively on agroforestry polycultures rather than large-scale monoculture. However, this discovery confirms that an agricultural system based on intensive cereal cultivation existed in the Llanos de Moxos, marking a significant shift in the understanding of pre-Hispanic agrarian economies in the region. According to Lombardo, this advanced agricultural engineering model transformed a hostile environment into a productive system that ensured food stability and supported population growth.

The ingenuity and adaptability of the Casarabe people demonstrate that it is possible to design long-term sustainable agricultural solutions, even in ecologically challenging environments. Their legacy could inspire modern water and soil management strategies to address contemporary challenges related to climate change and food security.

SOURCES

Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Lombardo, U., Hilbert, L., Bentley, M. et al. Maize monoculture supported pre-Columbian urbanism in southwestern Amazonia. Nature (2025). doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08473-y

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