Deep beneath the dense rainforest of the Andean Chocó, north-west of Quito, an ancient pre-Hispanic landscape is emerging using LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging).
Archaeologists have identified hundreds of ancient mounds, terraces and roads concealed for centuries by vegetation, dramatically expanding knowledge of human settlement in one of Ecuador’s most biodiverse regions.
The discovery follows an archaeological investigation carried out in December 2025 by the Metropolitan Institute of Heritage (IMP) in the commune of San Francisco de Pachijal, in the parish of Pacto. The project aimed to document and protect cultural heritage in the Andean Chocó, a region whose steep terrain and dense jungle have long limited conventional archaeological survey.
LiDAR, or Light Detection and Ranging, uses laser pulses to penetrate forest canopies and generate detailed topographic maps of the ground surface. What initially appeared to be a modest archaeological zone of 40 mounds and 10 terraces was transformed by the technology.
Analysis of the data revealed more than 200 mounds and over 100 terraces spread across an area of roughly 600 hectares.
This is particularly striking because the surveyed zone represents only about two per cent of the Andean Chocó, which covers more than 280,000 hectares. Researchers now believe the region may contain one of the most extensive pre-Hispanic landscapes yet documented in north-western Ecuador.
According to IMP consultant archaeologist Juan Jijón, the structures show clear evidence of deliberate human modification of the environment. Circular and rectangular constructions, interconnected by ancient roads, suggest a carefully planned settlement pattern linked to productive, social and ceremonial activities.
Fieldwork also uncovered a sunken rectangular structure near the San Francisco River that resembles architectural elements found at the Tulipe Archaeological Complex in nearby Gualea and Nanegalito, and points to advanced hydraulic knowledge among the area’s former inhabitants.
Based on associated material culture, specialists have attributed the remains to the Yumbo culture, a pre-Hispanic society known to have occupied the north-western Andes.
For IMP archaeologist Dayuma Guayasamín, the project goes beyond academic research. “The aim is to protect these sites, understand how cultural landscapes were formed and strengthen Quito’s heritage,” she said.
Sources : Metropolitan Institute of Heritage (IMP)
