Reframing Pre-European Amazonia through an Anthropocene Lens

Abstract

This article examines three intertwined forms of human transformation of Amazonia’s landscapes: (1) anthrosols, (2) cultural or domesticated forests, and (3) anthropogenic earthworks. By acknowledging the extent to which landscapes are humanized, an Anthropocene lens provides an opportunity to examine Amazonia as an Anthropogenic space (anthrome), providing a more realistic approach to understanding the region’s past and for guiding its conservation.