Unearthing Indigenous Funeral Urns: Mysteries Revealed in the Heart of the Amazon Rainforest

Seven ancient funeral urns have been discovered in the Brazilian Amazon. A local fisher found them when a tall Paricarana tree fell, uncovering these remarkable artifacts in a waterlogged area of the upper Amazon River.

These urns date back to pre-Columbian times, meaning they could be centuries to thousands of years old. They’re buried on a man-made island, but researchers aren’t sure whether the same culture created both the islands and the urns, according to Geórgea Layla Holanda from the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development (IDSM).

Two of the larger urns, measuring about 35 inches across, held human bones. The others contained seeds and remains of fish, frogs, and turtles. These materials were likely part of burial rituals, Holanda explains. The Brazilian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation described the find as “unprecedented.” Notably, the urns lacked ceramic lids, likely due to decomposition of organic materials used to seal them.

Similar burial practices have been observed in other regions, where urns were often topped with lids shaped like heads. The pottery discovered here is rare in greenish clay, with some fragments decorated with red bands, but researchers haven’t yet been able to connect these styles to any known culture.

Holanda notes that traditional funerals in the Amazon often involve several stages. After death, bodies were sometimes left in rivers or buried, and the bones were later cremated and placed inside urns to signify a transformation.

The discovery resulted from collaboration with the São Lázaro do Arumandubinha community, who alerted archaeologists about the find. Márcio Amaral, another IDSM archaeologist, highlighted the importance of community involvement in recognizing the historical significance of these urns.

Reaching this remote site involved traveling over 24 hours by boat from Tefé, then canoeing through flooded areas and hiking through dense forest. The researchers built a raised platform using wood and vines to work above the waterlogged ground, which sits about 15 inches deep on the island.

Now, researchers plan to date the urns and explore additional reports of similar urns found nearby. These findings highlight the rich history and cultural practices of ancient Indigenous peoples in the Amazon, reminding us of the importance of protecting these archaeological sites for future generations.

For further insights on the Amazon’s rich history and culture, check out this article on the historical significance of Indigenous practices.

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