Publisher's Synopsis
Using a variety of remote sensing techniques, Roosevelt documents the existence of a major moundbuilding culture possessing monumental architectural skills and a rich artistic tradition. This culture thrived on the lowland tropical floodplain of Marajo Island at the mouth of the Amazon river in Brazil from approximately 400 AD to 1300 AD.;The book introduces the use of geophysics for archaeology in non-specialized language, and describes the first extensive biological remains recovered in a tropical site. Roosevelt discusses their significance in illustrating a complex society indigenous to the tropics. Examples are provided which call into question theories about the limitations of the tropical environment for cultural evolution.
