To unearth their past, Amazonian people turn to 'a language white men understand'.

The article focuses on the collaborative archaeological efforts between the Kuikuro Indigenous people and researchers in the Xingu Indigenous Territory of Brazil, highlighting the significance of this partnership in uncovering the history of ancient civilizations in the Amazon. The project, initiated in the 1990s, has revealed that the Upper Xingu region was home to complex societies for over 1,500 years, challenging previous Western narratives that depicted the area as only supporting small, nomadic groups. The collaboration emphasizes the importance of integrating Indigenous knowledge with scientific research, allowing the Kuikuro to actively participate in archaeological practices and decision-making, while also using these findings to assert their historical presence and protect their land against external threats. [Extracted from the article]