Analyzing charcoal and phytolith records of soil cores from nonflooded, nonriverine forests in northeastern Peru, researchers found that the forests were not significantly altered by anthropogenic activity in pre-Columbian history, and material remains of ancient cultures, such as ceramics and stone tools, were also absent from soil samples; the findings suggest that over the last 5,000 years indigenous societies in northeastern Peru helped maintain regional forest integrity and biodiversity, according to the authors.
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Article #20-22213: "A 5,000-year vegetation and fire history for tierra firme forests in the Medio Putumayo-Algodón watersheds, northeastern Peru," by Dolores R. Piperno et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Dolores R. Piperno, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC; tel: 703-403-3305; email: < pipernod@si.edu >
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences