AN ARTIFICIAL LANDSCAPE-SCALE FISHERY IN THE BOLIVIAN AMAZON
All information contained on this site is EMBARGOED by the Journal Nature until 2 p.m. EST November 8, 2000			additional information below contact information below quick link to images
What?	The discovery of over 500 square kilometers of artificial earthworks that are identified as fish weirs by a team of American and Bolivian archaeologists directed by Dr. Clark L. Erickson of the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Where?	Baures, located in the eastern tropical lowlands of Bolivia, South America. The region, known as the Llanos de Mojos, is characterized by savannas, wetlands, and tropical forest.
Who?	The native peoples, the Baures, built a vast network of fish weirs, ponds, canals, and causeways to harvest fish and other aquatic resources.
Why?	The availability of protein is considered by some scholars to be a “limiting factor” in settlement and cultural development in the Amazon region. The Baure solved this problem by transforming the landscape into a large artificial fishery. They could efficiently harvest and manage aquatic resources using indigenous technology. The Baure were able to sustain large populations on the savanna.
When?	The earthwork complex was probably built and used in late prehistory and during the early colonial period (around AD 1600-1700).
Why is this important?	The Baure fish weirs are a remarkable example of indigenous knowledge and technology. We can learn valuable information about sustainable land use from this past culture that may have applications in the contemporary world.
The publication in the journal Nature [November 7, 2000] "An Artificial Landscape-Scale Fishery in the Bolivian Amazon" presents new archaeological research on massive anthropogenic transformation of the landscape in Amazonia. The manuscript documents how Native Americans of late prehistory transformed a marginal environment into a productive landscape capable of supporting large and dense populations. Archaeological fieldwork included survey, mapping and excavation of fish weirs and related infrastructure in the Bolivian Amazon. Based on form, patterning, environmental context, and ethnographic analogy, the earthworks are identified as fish weirs. There are no documented artificial fisheries of this scale, permanence, and sophistication in the published literature on Native Americans. The hydraulic complex represents a grand accomplishment of landscape engineering and environmental transformation by Amazonian peoples.
The research shows the contribution of archaeology and historical ecology to understanding the present environment of the Amazon and how it came to be. This case study is relevant to environmental studies, ecology, conservation, freshwater fisheries, wetland studies, anthropology, geography, and Latin American Studies. The research has implications for applied studies of sustainable development, conservation of biodiversity, and indigenous knowledge systems.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Click here to read the full article in Nature (Nov. 7, 2000) Images of the pre-Columbian fish weirs of the Bolivian Amazon Figures associated with November 7 Nature article Artist's Reconstruction of a landscape of fish weirs Glossary of Terminology Official Press Release Essay by Warrick Bray "Ancient Food for Thought" Acknowledgements of Support Applied Archaeology in the Bolivian Amazon Prehispanic Earthworks of the Baures Region of the Bolivian Amazon How can I support this research? Links to Web Sites featuring Fish Weirs Additional information on the archaeology of Baures, Bolivia can be found at the following web sites      (under construction) Archaeology in Baures, Bolivia (under construction)
Contact information: Dr. Clark L. Erickson Assocate Professor of Anthropology Associate Curator of the University of Pennsylvania Museum Department of Anthropology University of Pennsylvania 33rd and Spruce Streets Philadelphia, PA 19104-6398 Tel. 215-898-2282 Fax. 215-898-7462 Email cerickso@sas.upenn.edu Ms. Pam Kosty Assistant Director for Public Information University of Pennsylvania Museum Tel. 215-898-4045 Fax. 215-898-7961 Email: pkosty@sas.upenn.edu