Kuhikugu

Kuhikugu is an archaeological site located in Brazil, at the headwaters of the Xingu River, in the Amazon rainforest. The area around Kuhikugu is located in part of the Xingu National Park today. Kuhikugu was first uncovered by anthropologist Michael Heckenberger, working alongside the local Kuikuro people, who are the likely descendants of the original inhabitants of Kuhikugu.

Archaeological complex and history

In the broad sense, the name refers to an archaeological complex including twenty towns and villages, spread out over an area of around 7,700 square miles (20,000 km2), where close to 50,000 people may have once lived. Kuhikugu was likely inhabited from a period of time around 1,500 years ago to a time as recently as 400 years ago, when the people living there were likely killed by diseases brought over by Europeans. Although Europeans likely did not spread it to the inhabitants of Kuhikugu directly, they did directly spread diseases to trade partners from other areas. By the time Europeans did make it to this area, the civilization was already crumbling. Early conquistadors that explored this area likely saw the last moments of these towns, and their records provide insight to what these locations would have looked like. And when Europeans returned some time later the towns and villages were already consumed by the rainforest. The indigenous people now lived in tribes away from the ruins, and the memory of that civilization was remembered through oral tradition.