Unveiling the Ancient Roots of Maize Cultivation in Pre-Columbian Amazonia: Discover how the Casarabe people engineered waterways to convert seasonally flooded savannas into year-round crop fields, allowing them to grow two harvests of maize annually.
The Casarabe people, who lived in what is now northern Bolivia between 500 and 1400 AD, were skilled maize farmers. They engineered waterways to convert seasonally flooded savannas into year-round crop fields, allowing them to grow two harvests of maize annually.
The Casarabe people are an indigenous group living in the state of 'Bolivar' , Venezuela.
They inhabit the Orinoco River basin and have a population of approximately 2,000 individuals.
The Casarabe language belongs to the Carib language family and is spoken by around 90% of the community.
Historically, they were skilled hunters and gatherers, relying on the river's resources for their livelihood.
Today, many Casarabe people engage in agriculture and fishing to supplement their income.
To understand how the Casarabe people achieved such a high level of agricultural productivity, researchers used satellite images and ground surveys to identify clusters of human-made ponds in two savanna regions. The team also employed a drone-mounted remote sensing technique called light detection and ranging (lidar) to map canals dug into the ground that connected many ponds.
The Casarabe people’s innovative water management system consisted of drainage canals and water-storing ponds. This network allowed them to grow maize along canal borders and around pond margins, taking advantage of the fertile soil created by the canals’ constant flow of water. The presence of microscopic mineral formations called phytoliths in soil samples from the edges of drainage canals and ponds confirmed that maize was indeed cultivated in these areas.
Maize, also known as corn, is a staple crop in many parts of the world.
It is a versatile grain used for food, animal feed, and biofuel production.
Maize cultivation requires specific climate conditions, including warm temperatures and adequate rainfall.
The crop is typically planted in well-draining soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
Maize is a significant source of income for many farmers worldwide, with the United States, China, and Brazil being among the top producers.
The discovery of this sophisticated agricultural system has significant implications for our understanding of ancient urbanization in South America. By growing two harvests of maize annually, the Casarabe people were able to feed a substantial population, contributing to the rise of urban sprawl across Amazonian forests and savannas.
The Casarabe people are an indigenous group native to the Guiana Shield region, spanning across Brazil, Guyana, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Their traditional territory is characterized by dense rainforests and savannas.
The Casarabe language belongs to the 'Carib family' , with approximately 3,000 speakers.
Historically, they have been semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers, relying on forest resources for sustenance.
Efforts are being made to preserve their culture and language, recognizing their importance in the region's rich cultural heritage.
According to geoarchaeologist Umberto Lombardo, the Casarabe people may have chosen to focus on maize cultivation as a reliable source of protein in response to growing environmental pressures. Maize could have offered a stable food source during both rainy and dry seasons, supporting the growth of their society.
The researchers’ findings, published in Nature, demonstrate the ingenuity and resourcefulness of ancient Amazonian societies in developing innovative solutions to meet their agricultural needs.
- sciencenews.org | Here’s how ancient Amazonians became master maize farmers
