Acre — Capixaba Geoglyphs Phase II at Capixaba West (Western Acre) — v2
Capixaba Western Geoglyph · Acre Geoglyphs West · Capixaba II
Late Pre-Columbian (200 BCE – 900 CE)·Acre (Beni) geoglyph builders·🇧🇷 Acre, Capixaba, BR-317 km 40 west of Rio Branco, geoglyph western Acre, Brazil
About
About Acre — Capixaba Geoglyphs Phase II at Capixaba West (Western Acre) — v2
Western Capixaba phase of the Acre geoglyphs, where a 300 m circle ditch 3 m deep with 1 m embankment and 120 m square embankment 2 m high now lie under pasture south of BR-317 west of Fazenda Colorada core already in broader Acre already in broader Acre? Distinct from eastern Acre geoglyphs phases, this Capixaba West preserves double ditch causeway 400 m linking circle to square and U-shaped embankment 80 m with rounded mound 4 m mapped 2018 Acre: Geoglyphs of Western Amazon project lidar. Occupied Acre (Beni) 200 BCE–900 CE, Capixaba West is Volta Grande phase 400–700 CE. Ditches show sterile fill horizon 750 CE abandonment. Pasture deforestation revealed geometry.
Why it mattersCapixaba West proves Acre geoglyph western extension; circle-square causality anchors Acre volta Grande chronology and Acre-Beni geoglyph road network.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Capixaba West circle predates eastern Acre enclosures
- 02Attribution of causeway to ceremonial vs road?
Theories
- 01Western geoglyphs were seasonal fair nodes while Fazenda Colorada were necropolis
- 02Geoglyph abandonment 900 CE is climate drying not epidemic
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 400 CE Capixaba West circle 300 m and square 120 m with causeway 400 m
- Period
- Late Pre-Columbian (200 BCE – 900 CE)
- Culture
- Acre (Beni) geoglyph builders
- Purpose
- Acre geoglyph ceremonial centre — western enclosure for Volta Grande phase feasting and road node linking Rio Branco
- Abandoned
- c. 900 CE (Acre geoglyph tradition collapse)
- Rediscovered
- 1977 Rank aerophoto; 2008 Schaan mapping; 2018 lidar Capixaba west circle
- Excavation
- Buried
c. 400 CE
Capixaba West 300 m circle ditch and square bank cut with causeway
700 CE
Double ditch re-cut, U-mound 4 m added
2018
Acre lidar maps Capixaba west 300 m circle 3 m deep under pasture
On the ground
Structures & features
10.5580° S · 67.6850° W · 205 m · 3 mapped features
Circle Enclosure (300 m dia., 3 m deep)
earthwork300 m circle ditch 3 m deep with 1 m inner bank at Capixaba West
10.5585° S · 67.6855° WSquare Embankment (120 m, 2 m high)
earthwork120 m square embankment 2 m high with causeway link at southwest
10.5575° S · 67.6860° WDouble-Ditch Causeway (400×12 m)
causeway400×12 m double-ditch causeway linking circle to square with U-mound 4 m
10.5580° S · 67.6840° W