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The 'lost city' in the Amazon wasn't really lost, and it's not a city

I keep seeing news stories calling that big LiDAR find in Bolivia a 'lost city' or comparing it to El Dorado. It was a network of settlements and roads built by the Casarabe culture, active from about 500 to 1400 AD. Calling it a 'city' makes people think of stone pyramids like the Maya, but these were earthworks and mounds in a forest landscape. This mix-up matters because it hides the real story of how people lived there. What do you think, is this just bad reporting or does the 'lost city' idea actually help get people interested?
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3 Comments
sarahbailey
The "lost city" label reminds me of how every old building gets called a castle on vacation tours.
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faith274
faith2741mo ago
My buddy went on a tour where they called a tiny stone hut a "fortress." He paid extra for it. The guide kept a straight face the whole time.
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nguyen.thomas
He paid extra for a stone hut they called a fortress? lmao that's wild.
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