Kuhikugu, Archaeological site at Xingu River headwaters, Brazil.
Kuhikugu is an archaeological site near the headwaters of the Xingu River in the Brazilian rainforest, formed by twenty connected settlements spread over 20,000 square kilometers (7,722 square miles). Roads, fortifications and trenches link these places into a network that points to dense occupation.
Michael Heckenberger uncovered the site while working alongside Kuikuro people, revealing that people lived here from 1500 to 400 years ago. The settlement housed around 50,000 inhabitants at its peak before it was abandoned.
The people here built monuments flat on the ground rather than reaching skyward, a choice that set them apart from neighboring groups who raised towers and pyramids. This horizontal approach still shapes how scholars understand the relationship these communities maintained with the forces they honored.
The site lies deep in the rainforest near the Xingu headwaters, making access difficult and requiring special preparation. Visitors should expect humid conditions, dense vegetation and limited infrastructure.
The largest village held 5,000 people and was protected by wooden palisades, while Lake Lamakuka supplied fish as the main source of protein. This water feature formed the backbone of the diet and shows the importance of water management in the region.
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