The recent discoveries by archaeologists of evidence of highly developed agricultural civilizations in the Amazon jungles is a major scientific event.
In southwest Bolivia, and along the borders of Brazil and Colombia, archaeologists using radar and satellite imagery have discovered evidence of large populations dating from the 18th century to as far back as 14,000 years ago as well as possibly very ancient rock art.
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Some of these up to now undiscovered native American population centers existed up to the 18th century but some were abandoned as long as 10,000 years ago.
The more recent ones, dating from between 1300 and 1700 CE were found in the Brazilian state of Akko and took the form of mounds with as yet unknown purposes.
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Many much older sites featured a sophisticated network of canals and circular settlements built on made-made islands in the form of a clock-face.
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These circular settlements were typically built on boulders and were connected with each other by paired roads with high banks, and appeared like the spokes of a wheel.
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The archaeologists working in these areas are assuming that these cultures could sustain a population of up to one million people at one time.
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No natural cause for the “islands” could be found, and research has proven that at least most of them were created by humans.
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Evidence of meat and fish bones and various tropical agricultural products such as manioc and gourds, dating back 10,000 years, was found, with corn starting to show up starting from more then 6800 years ago.
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In other parts of the Amazon basin scientists have discovered areas where the soil was clearly fertilized by early farmers some 5000 years ago.
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These were discovered when scientists noticed concentrated growths of certain trees not typical for their area and investigated the soil around them, finding it darker than the surrounding soils, and discovering remains of carbonized wood and pottery in it.
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The rock art discovered in three different rock shelters the western reaches of the Amazon was dated back 11,000 to 12,600 years by some scientists and portrayed the inhabitants hunting supposed Ice Age megafauna.
The largest of these, known as Cerra Azul, at Serrania-la-Lindosa in Colombia, consisted of 12 panels of rock art, including thousands of individual pictograms.
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According to an article in Nature, humans settled this region of South America approximately 15,000 years ago.
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Warning: these questons and answers are not all representative of the way questions will be asked and answered in the pilot, because some questions are compound and some answers do not include citations.

Q: In which South American countries has evidence of ancient civilizations dating back more than 10,000 years recently been found?
A: In Bolivia, Brazil, and Colombia.

Q: What was the shape of typical settlements discovered in the jungles?
A: They were circular, with small man-made islands at the center.

Q: What kinds of plants were grown and or consumed at these settlements?
A: evidence of manioc, corn, and gourds was found.

Q: What was the purpose of the mounds?
A: The purpose of the mounds is unknown.

Q: Approximately how many peop[le could have lived in this area?
A: Scientists believe it could sustain up to one million.

Q: How were these sites discovered?
A: The sites were discovered using radar from helicopters and satellite imagery.

Q: Where radar and satellite imagery was not involved, what tipped off scientists that there might be evidence of human action in the jungle?
A: The appearance of clusters of trees not typical of their area.

Q: Where was the rock art discovered?
A: at Serrania-la-Lindosa in Colombia.

Q: What did the rock art depict?
A: Humans hunting Ice Age megafauna (among other things)

Q: When is it thought that humans may have first settled the Amazon region?
A: Approximately 15,000 years ago.