[ricardobeat]

The previous common-sense belief was that the Amazon was never densely populated and had always been exactly like it is today, a dense forest with primitive tribes scattered hundreds of km apart.

Twenty years ago, brazilian researchers who would mention this theory were considered a bit lunatic, at the “elvis isn’t dead” or “the US reads all the world’s email” level of conspiracy theories.

So playing down these discoveries with discussions of urban density or cities vs villages is pointless, the important finding is that there was some form of civilization there at all.

[nico]

> Twenty years ago, brazilian researchers who would mention this theory were considered a bit lunatic

You are right. However, not only Brazilian researchers, an not just 20 years ago

Check out the movie "The Lost City of Z" or the story of Percy Fawcett

[physicles]

Also, the amazing story of Helena Valero, kidnapped by an Amazon tribe, survived just on her wits, and escaped years later: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41758857

[rockskon]

Read, parse for keywords to take action against - what's the difference?

[ricardobeat]

The article makes its main point to dispute the “City” characterization and how this is “overblown”.

I can only assume trkaky posted in the same spirit of discrediting the news, which I find worth “taking action” against. It might be old news for people in the field, and not reported faithfully (as usual), but what’s the purpose of raining down on one of the most interesting archeological discoveries in the Americas?

[tempodox]

Agreed, but:

> “the US reads all the world’s email” level of conspiracy theories

Never say never.

[alexey-salmin]

Perhaps the parent comment is alluding to Elvis actually being not dead

[lazide]

He just went home (/s)