The_AT Lost_JJ City_NN1 of_IO Z_ZZ1 :_: A_AT1 Tale_NN1 of_IO Deadly_JJ Obsession_NN1 in_II the_AT Amazon_NP1 On_II a_AT1 cold_JJ January_NPM1 day_NNT1 in_II 1925_MC ,_, a_AT1 tall_JJ ,_, distinguished_JJ gentleman_NN1 hurried_VVN across_II the_AT docks_NN2 in_II Hoboken_NP1 ,_, New_NP1 Jersey_NP1 ,_, toward_II the_AT SS_NP1 Vauban_NP1 ,_, a_AT1 ocean_NN1 liner_NN1 bound_VVN for_IF Rio_NP1 de_NP1 Janeiro_NP1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ fifty-seven_MC years_NNT2 old_JJ and_CC stood_VVD over_RG six_MC feet_NN2 ,_, his_APPGE long_JJ arms_NN2 corded_JJ with_IW muscles_NN2 ._. 
Although_CS his_APPGE hair_NN1 was_VBDZ thinning_VVG and_CC his_APPGE mustache_NN1 was_VBDZ flecked_VVN with_IW white_JJ ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ so_RR fit_VV0 that_CST he_PPHS1 could_VM walk_VVI for_IF days_NNT2 with_IW little_DA1 ,_, if_CS any_DD ,_, rest_NN1 or_CC nourishment_NN1 ._. 
His_APPGE nose_NN1 was_VBDZ crooked_JJ like_II a_AT1 boxer_NN1 's_VBZ ,_, and_CC there_EX was_VBDZ something_PN1 ferocious_JJ about_II his_APPGE appearance_NN1 ,_, especially_RR his_APPGE eyes_NN2 ._. 
They_PPHS2 were_VBDR set_VVN close_VV0 together_RL and_CC peered_VVN out_RP from_II under_RG thick_JJ tufts_NN2 of_IO hair_NN1 ._. 
No_PN121 one_PN122 ,_, not_XX even_RR his_APPGE family_NN1 ,_, seemed_VVD to_TO agree_VVI on_II their_APPGE color_NN1 --_NN1 some_DD thought_NN1 they_PPHS2 were_VBDR blue_JJ ,_, others_NN2 gray_JJ ._. 
Yet_RR virtually_RR everyone_PN1 who_PNQS encountered_VVD him_PPHO1 was_VBDZ struck_VVN by_II their_APPGE intensity_NN1 :_: some_DD called_VVD them_PPHO2 "_" the_AT eyes_NN2 of_IO a_AT1 visionary_JJ ._. "_" 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD frequently_RR been_VBN photographed_VVN in_II riding_VVG boots_NN2 and_CC wearing_VVG a_AT1 Stetson_NP1 ,_, with_IW a_AT1 rifle_NN1 slung_VVD over_RP his_APPGE shoulder_NN1 ,_, but_CCB even_RR in_II a_AT1 suit_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 tie_NN1 ,_, and_CC without_IW his_APPGE customary_JJ wild_JJ beard_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 could_VM be_VBI recognized_VVN by_II the_AT crowds_NN2 on_II the_AT pier_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ Colonel_NNB Percy_NP1 Harrison_NP1 Fawcett_NP1 ,_, and_CC his_APPGE name_NN1 was_VBDZ known_VVN throughout_II the_AT world_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ the_AT last_MD of_IO the_AT great_JJ Victorian_JJ explorers_NN2 who_PNQS ventured_VVD into_II uncharted_JJ realms_NN2 with_IW little_DA1 more_DAR than_CSN a_AT1 machete_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 compass_NN1 ,_, and_CC an_AT1 almost_RR divine_JJ sense_NN1 of_IO purpose_NN1 ._. 
For_IF nearly_RR two_MC decades_NNT2 ,_, stories_NN2 of_IO his_APPGE adventures_NN2 had_VHD captivated_VVN the_AT public_NN1 's_GE imagination_NN1 :_: how_RRQ he_PPHS1 had_VHD survived_VVN in_II the_AT South_NP1 American_JJ wilderness_NN1 without_IW contact_NN1 with_IW the_AT outside_JJ world_NN1 ;_; how_RRQ he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ ambushed_VVN by_II hostile_JJ tribesmen_NN2 ,_, many_DA2 of_IO whom_PNQO had_VHD never_RR before_RT seen_VVN a_AT1 white_JJ man_NN1 ;_; how_RRQ he_PPHS1 battled_VVD piranhas_NN2 ,_, electric_JJ eels_NN2 ,_, jaguars_NN2 ,_, crocodiles_NN2 ,_, vampire_NN1 bats_NN2 ,_, and_CC anacondas_NN2 ,_, including_II one_PN1 that_CST almost_RR crushed_VVD him_PPHO1 ;_; and_CC how_RRQ he_PPHS1 emerged_VVD with_IW maps_NN2 of_IO regions_NN2 from_II which_DDQ no_AT previous_JJ expedition_NN1 had_VHD returned_VVN ._. 
He_PPHS1 was_VBDZ renowned_JJ as_II the_AT "_" David_NP1 Livingstone_NP1 of_IO the_AT Amazon_NP1 ,_, "_" and_CC was_VBDZ believed_VVN to_TO have_VHI such_DA unrivaled_JJ powers_NN2 of_IO endurance_NN1 that_CST a_AT1 few_DA2 colleagues_NN2 even_RR claimed_VVD he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ immune_JJ to_II death_NN1 ._. 
An_AT1 American_JJ explorer_NN1 described_VVD him_PPHO1 as_II "_" a_AT1 man_NN1 of_IO indomitable_JJ will_NN1 ,_, infinite_JJ resource_NN1 ,_, fearless_JJ ;_; "_" another_DD1 said_VVD that_CST he_PPHS1 could_VM "_" outwalk_NN1 and_CC outhike_NN1 and_CC outexplore_VV0 anybody_PN1 else_RR ._. "_" 
The_AT London_NP1 Geographical_JJ Journal_NN1 ,_, the_AT preeminent_JJ publication_NN1 in_II its_APPGE field_NN1 ,_, observed_VVN in_II 1953_MC that_CST "_" Fawcett_NP1 marked_VVD the_AT end_NN1 of_IO an_AT1 age_NN1 ._. 
One_PN1 might_VM almost_RR call_VVI him_PPHO1 the_AT last_MD of_IO the_AT individualist_NN1 explorers_NN2 ._. 
The_AT day_NNT1 of_IO the_AT aeroplane_NN1 ,_, the_AT radio_NN1 ,_, the_AT organized_JJ and_CC heavily_RR financed_VVN modern_JJ expedition_NN1 had_VHD not_XX arrived_VVN ._. 
With_IW him_PPHO1 ,_, it_PPH1 was_VBDZ the_AT heroic_JJ story_NN1 of_IO a_AT1 man_NN1 against_II the_AT forest_NN1 ._. "_" 
In_II 1916_MC ,_, the_AT Royal_JJ Geographical_JJ Society_NN1 had_VHD awarded_VVN him_PPHO1 ,_, with_IW the_AT blessing_NN1 of_IO King_NNB George_NP1 V_ZZ1 ,_, a_AT1 gold_NN1 medal_NN1 "_" for_IF his_APPGE contributions_NN2 to_II the_AT mapping_NN1 of_IO South_ND1 America_NP1 ._. "_" 
And_CC every_AT1 few_DA2 years_NNT2 ,_, when_CS he_PPHS1 emerged_VVD from_II the_AT jungle_NN1 ,_, spidery_JJ thin_JJ and_CC bedraggled_JJ ,_, dozens_NNO2 of_IO scientists_NN2 and_CC luminaries_NN2 would_VM pack_VVI into_II the_AT Society_NN1 's_GE hall_NN1 to_TO hear_VVI him_PPHO1 speak_VVI ._. 
Among_II them_PPHO2 was_VBDZ Sir_NNB Arthur_NP1 Conan_NP1 Doyle_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ said_VVN to_TO have_VHI drawn_VVN on_II Fawcett_NP1 's_GE experiences_NN2 for_IF his_APPGE 1912_MC book_NN1 The_AT Lost_JJ World_NN1 ,_, in_II which_DDQ explorers_NN2 "_" disappear_VV0 into_II the_AT unknown_JJ "_" of_IO South_ND1 America_NP1 and_CC find_VV0 ,_, on_II a_AT1 remote_JJ plateau_NN1 ,_, a_AT1 land_NN1 where_RRQ dinosaurs_NN2 have_VH0 escaped_VVN extinction_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA Fawcett_NP1 made_VVD his_APPGE way_NN1 to_II the_AT gangplank_NN1 that_DD1 day_NNT1 in_II January_NPM1 ,_, he_PPHS1 eerily_RR resembled_VVD one_MC1 of_IO the_AT book_NN1 's_GE protagonists_NN2 ,_, Lord_NNB John_NP1 Roxton_NP1 :_: Something_PN1 there_RL was_VBDZ of_IO Napoleon_NP1 III_MC ,_, something_PN1 of_IO Don_NP1 Quixote_NP1 ,_, and_CC yet_RR again_RT something_PN1 which_DDQ was_VBDZ the_AT essence_NN1 of_IO the_AT English_JJ country_NN1 gentleman_NN1 &hellip;_... 
He_PPHS1 has_VHZ a_AT1 gentle_JJ voice_NN1 and_CC a_AT1 quiet_JJ manner_NN1 ,_, but_CCB behind_II his_APPGE twinkling_JJ blue_JJ eyes_NN2 there_RL lurks_VVZ a_AT1 capacity_NN1 for_IF furious_JJ wrath_NN1 and_CC implacable_JJ resolution_NN1 ,_, the_AT more_RGR dangerous_JJ because_CS they_PPHS2 are_VBR held_VVN in_II leash_NN1 ._. 
None_PN of_IO Fawcett_NP1 's_GE previous_JJ expeditions_NN2 compared_VVN with_IW what_DDQ he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ about_RPK to_TO do_VDI ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 could_VM barely_RR conceal_VVI his_APPGE impatience_NN1 as_CSA he_PPHS1 fell_VVD into_II31 line_II32 with_II33 the_AT other_JJ passengers_NN2 boarding_VVG the_AT SS_NP1 Vauban_NP1 ._. 
The_AT ship_NN1 ,_, advertised_VVN as_CSA "_" the_AT finest_JJT in_II the_AT world_NN1 ,_, "_" was_VBDZ part_NN1 of_IO the_AT Lamport_NP1 &;_NULL Holt_NP1 elite_NN1 "_" V_II "_" class_NN1 ._. 
The_AT Germans_NN2 had_VHD sunk_VVN several_DA2 of_IO the_AT company_NN1 's_GE ocean_NN1 liners_NN2 during_II World_NN1 War_NN1 I_ZZ1 ,_, but_CCB this_DD1 one_PN1 had_VHD survived_VVN ,_, with_IW its_APPGE black_JJ ,_, salt-streaked_JJ hull_NN1 and_CC elegant_JJ white_JJ decks_NN2 and_CC striped_JJ funnel_NN1 billowing_VVG smoke_NN1 into_II the_AT sky_NN1 ._. 
"_" It_PPH1 's_VBZ up_II21 to_II22 you_PPY ,_, Jack_NP1 ,_, "_" Fawcett_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
The_AT two_MC were_VBDR talking_VVG after_II Fawcett_NP1 had_VHD come_VVN back_RP from_II his_APPGE 1921_MC expedition_NN1 ._. 
While_CS Fawcett_NP1 had_VHD been_VBN away_RL ,_, Nina_NP1 had_VHD moved_VVN the_AT family_NN1 from_II Jamaica_NP1 to_II Los_NP1 Angeles_NP1 ,_, where_CS the_AT Rimells_NP2 had_VHD also_RR gone_VVN and_CC where_RRQ Jack_NP1 and_CC Raleigh_NP1 had_VHD been_VBN swept_VVN up_RP in_II the_AT romance_NN1 of_IO Hollywood_NP1 ,_, greasing_VVG their_APPGE hair_NN1 ,_, growing_VVG Clark_NP1 Gable_NP1 mustaches_VVZ ,_, and_CC hanging_VVG around_II Hollywood_NP1 sets_VVZ ,_, in_II the_AT hopes_NN2 of_IO landing_VVG roles_NN2 ._. 
(_( Jack_NP1 had_VHD met_VVN Mary_NP1 Pickford_NP1 and_CC loaned_VVN her_PPHO1 his_APPGE cricket_NN1 bat_NN1 to_TO use_VVI in_II the_AT production_NN1 of_IO Little_JJ Lord_NNB Fauntleroy_NP1 ._. )_) 
Fawcett_NP1 had_VHD a_AT1 proposition_NN1 for_IF his_APPGE son_NN1 ._. 
Colonel_NNB T._NP1 E._NP1 Lawrence_NP1 --_NN1 the_AT celebrated_JJ desert_NN1 spy_NN1 and_CC explorer_NN1 better_RRR known_VVN as_II Lawrence_NP1 of_IO Arabia_NP1 --_NN1 had_VHD volunteered_VVN to_TO go_VVI with_IW Fawcett_NP1 on_II his_APPGE next_MD journey_NN1 in_II31 search_II32 of_II33 Z_ZZ1 ,_, but_CCB Fawcett_NP1 was_VBDZ wary_JJ of_IO choosing_VVG a_AT1 companion_NN1 with_IW a_AT1 powerful_JJ ego_NN1 who_PNQS was_VBDZ unaccustomed_JJ to_II the_AT Amazon_NP1 ._. 
As_CSA Fawcett_NP1 wrote_VVD to_II a_AT1 friend_NN1 ,_, "_" &lsqb;_( Lawrence_NP1 &rsqb;_) may_VM be_VBI keen_JJ upon_II S._NP1 American_JJ exploration_NN1 but_CCB in_II the_AT first_MD place_NN1 he_PPHS1 probably_RR requires_VVZ a_AT1 salary_NN1 I_PPIS1 can_VM not_XX pay_VVI him_PPHO1 and_CC in_II the_AT second_MD place_NN1 excellent_JJ work_NN1 in_II the_AT Near_JJ East_ND1 does_VDZ not_XX infer_VVI the_AT ability_NN1 or_CC willingness_NN1 to_TO hump_VVI a_AT1 60_MC lbs_NNU2 pack_NN1 ,_, live_VV0 for_IF a_AT1 year_NNT1 upon_II the_AT forest_NN1 ,_, suffer_VV0 from_II legions_NN2 of_IO insects_NN2 and_CC accept_VV0 the_AT conditions_NN2 which_DDQ I_PPIS1 would_VM impose_VVI ._. "_" 
Fawcett_NP1 told_VVD Jack_NP1 that_CST ,_, instead_II21 of_II22 Lawrence_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 could_VM take_VVI part_NN1 in_II the_AT expedition_NN1 ._. 
It_PPH1 would_VM be_VBI one_MC1 of_IO the_AT most_RGT difficult_JJ and_CC dangerous_JJ expeditions_NN2 in_II the_AT history_NN1 of_IO exploration_NN1 --_NN1 the_AT ultimate_JJ test_NN1 ,_, in_II Fawcett_NP1 's_GE words_NN2 ,_, "_" of_IO faith_NN1 ,_, courage_NN1 ,_, and_CC determination_NN1 ._. "_" 
Jack_NP1 did_VDD n't_XX hesitate_VVI ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 want_VV0 to_TO go_VVI with_IW you_PPY ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
Nina_NP1 ,_, who_PNQS was_VBDZ present_JJ during_II these_DD2 discussions_NN2 ,_, raised_VVD no_AT objections_NN2 ._. 
Partly_RR ,_, she_PPHS1 was_VBDZ confident_JJ that_CST Fawcett_NP1 's_GE seemingly_RR superhuman_JJ powers_NN2 would_VM protect_VVI their_APPGE son_NN1 ,_, and_CC ,_, partly_RR ,_, she_PPHS1 believed_VVD that_CST Jack_NP1 ,_, as_CSA his_APPGE father_NN1 's_GE natural_JJ heir_NN1 ,_, would_VM possess_VVI similar_JJ abilities_NN2 ._. 
Yet_RR her_APPGE motivation_NN1 seems_VVZ to_TO have_VHI gone_VVN deeper_RRR than_CSN that_DD1 :_: to_TO doubt_VVI her_APPGE husband_NN1 after_II so_RG many_DA2 years_NNT2 of_IO sacrifice_NN1 was_VBDZ to_TO doubt_VVI her_APPGE own_DA life_NN1 's_GE work_NN1 ._. 
Indeed_RR ,_, she_PPHS1 needed_VVD Z_ZZ1 just_RR as_RG much_DA1 as_CSA he_PPHS1 did_VDD ._. 
And_CC even_CS21 though_CS22 Jack_NP1 had_VHD no_AT exploring_NN1 experience_NN1 and_CC the_AT expedition_NN1 entailed_VVD extraordinary_JJ danger_NN1 ,_, she_PPHS1 never_RR considered_VVN ,_, as_CSA she_PPHS1 later_RRR told_VVD a_AT1 reporter_NN1 ,_, trying_VVG to_TO "_" hold_VVI "_" her_APPGE son_NN1 back_NN1 ._. 
Of_RR21 course_RR22 ,_, Raleigh_NP1 had_VHD to_TO come_VVI ,_, too_RR ._. 
Jack_NP1 said_VVD that_CST he_PPHS1 could_VM not_XX do_VDI the_AT most_RGT important_JJ thing_NN1 in_II his_APPGE life_NN1 without_IW him_PPHO1 ._. 
Raleigh_NP1 's_GE mother_NN1 ,_, Elsie_NP1 ,_, was_VBDZ reluctant_JJ to_TO permit_VVI her_APPGE youngest_JJT son_NN1 --_NN1 her_APPGE "_" boy_NN1 ,_, "_" as_CSA she_PPHS1 called_VVD him_PPHO1 --_JJ to_TO join_VVI such_DA a_AT1 dangerous_JJ venture_NN1 ._. 
But_CCB Raleigh_NP1 was_VBDZ insistent_JJ ._. 
His_APPGE movie_NN1 aspirations_NN2 had_VHD foundered_VVN ,_, and_CC he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ toiling_VVG in_II menial_JJ jobs_NN2 in_II the_AT lumber_NN1 industry_NN1 ._. 
As_CSA he_PPHS1 told_VVD his_APPGE older_JJR brother_NN1 ,_, Roger_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 felt_VVD "_" unsatisfied_JJ and_CC unsettled_VVD ._. "_" 
This_DD1 was_VBDZ his_APPGE opportunity_NN1 not_XX only_RR to_TO earn_VVI a_AT1 "_" pile_NN1 of_IO dough_NN1 "_" but_CCB also_RR to_TO make_VVI good_JJ with_IW his_APPGE life_NN1 ._. 
Fawcett_NP1 informed_VVD the_AT RGS_NP1 and_CC others_NN2 that_CST he_PPHS1 now_RT had_VHD two_MC ideal_JJ companions_NN2 (_( "_" both_DB2 strong_JJ as_CSA horses_NN2 and_CC keen_JJ as_CSA mustard_NN1 "_" )_) and_CC tried_VVD once_RR21 more_RR22 to_TO secure_VVI funding_NN1 ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 can_VM only_RR say_VVI I_PPIS1 am_VBM a_AT1 Founder_NN1 's_GE Medallist_NN1 &hellip;_... ._. and_CC therefore_RR deserving_JJ of_IO confidence_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 maintained_VVD ._. 
Yet_RR the_AT failure_NN1 of_IO his_APPGE previous_JJ expedition_NN1 --_NN1 even_CS21 though_CS22 it_PPH1 was_VBDZ only_RR the_AT first_MD in_II an_AT1 illustrious_JJ career_NN1 --_NN1 had_VHD given_VVN his_APPGE critics_NN2 further_JJR ammunition_NN1 ._. 
And_CC with_IW no_AT backers_NN2 ,_, and_CC after_II exhausting_VVG what_DDQ little_JJ savings_NN2 he_PPHS1 had_VHD on_II his_APPGE previous_JJ expedition_NN1 ,_, he_PPHS1 soon_RR found_VVD himself_PPX1 bankrupt_JJ ,_, like_II his_APPGE father_NN1 ._. 
In_II September_NPM1 1921_MC ,_, unable_JK to_TO sustain_VVI the_AT cost_NN1 of_IO living_VVG in_II California_NP1 ,_, he_PPHS1 was_VBDZ forced_VVN to_TO uproot_VVI his_APPGE family_NN1 again_RT and_CC return_VVI to_II Stoke_NP1 Canon_NP1 ,_, England_NP1 ,_, where_CS he_PPHS1 rented_VVD an_AT1 old_JJ ,_, ramshackle_JJ house_NN1 without_IW running_JJ water_NN1 or_CC electricity_NN1 ._. 
"_" All_DB water_NN1 has_VHZ to_TO be_VBI pumped_VVN and_CC huge_JJ logs_NN2 have_VH0 to_TO be_VBI sawn_VVN into_II blocks_NN2 --_NN1 all_DB additional_JJ labour_NN1 ,_, "_" Nina_NP1 wrote_VVD to_II Large_JJ ._. 
The_AT work_NN1 was_VBDZ grueling_VVG ._. 
"_" I_PPIS1 broke_VVD down_RP utterly_RR about_RG 5_MC weeks_NNT2 ago_RA and_CC was_VBDZ very_RG seriously_RR ill_JJ ,_, "_" Nina_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Part_NN1 of_IO her_PPHO1 wanted_VVD to_TO run_VVI away_RL and_CC escape_VVI all_DB the_AT sacrifices_NN2 and_CC burdens_NN2 --_JJ but_CCB ,_, she_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, "_" the_AT family_NN1 needed_VVD me_PPIO1 ._. "_" 
"_" The_AT situation_NN1 is_VBZ difficult_JJ ,_, "_" Fawcett_NP1 admitted_VVD to_II Large_JJ ._. 
"_" One_PN1 learns_VVZ little_RR from_II a_AT1 smooth_JJ life_NN1 ,_, but_CCB I_PPIS1 do_VD0 not_XX like_VVI roping_VVG others_NN2 into_II the_AT difficulties_NN2 which_DDQ have_VH0 dogged_VVN me_PPIO1 so_RG persistently_RR &hellip;_... 
It_PPH1 is_VBZ not_XX that_CST I_PPIS1 want_VV0 luxuries_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 care_VV0 little_RR about_II such_DA things_NN2 --_JJ but_CCB I_PPIS1 hate_VV0 inactivity_NN1 ._. "_" 
Heckenberger_NP1 told_VVD me_PPIO1 that_CST scientists_NN2 were_VBDR just_RR beginning_VVG the_AT process_NN1 of_IO understanding_VVG this_DD1 ancient_JJ world_NN1 --_NN1 and_CC ,_, like_II the_AT theory_NN1 of_IO who_PNQS first_MD populated_VVN the_AT Americas_NP2 ,_, all_DB the_AT traditional_JJ paradigms_NN2 had_VHD to_TO be_VBI reevalu-ated_JJ ._. 
In_II 2006_MC ,_, evidence_NN1 even_RR emerged_VVD that_CST ,_, in_II some_DD parts_NN2 of_IO the_AT Amazon_NP1 ,_, Indians_NN2 built_VVN with_IW stone_NN1 ._. 
Archaeologists_NN2 with_IW the_AT Amapa_NP1 Institute_NN1 of_IO Scientific_JJ and_CC Technological_JJ Research_NN1 uncovered_VVD ,_, in_II the_AT northern_JJ Brazilian_NN1 Amazon_NP1 ,_, an_AT1 astronomical_JJ observatory_NN1 tower_NN1 made_VVN of_IO huge_JJ granite_NN1 rocks_NN2 :_: each_DD1 one_PN1 weighed_VVD several_DA2 tons_NNU2 ,_, and_CC some_DD were_VBDR nearly_RR ten_MC feet_NN2 tall_JJ ._. 
The_AT ruins_NN2 ,_, believed_VVD to_TO be_VBI anywhere_RL from_II five_MC hundred_NNO to_II two_MC thousand_NNO years_NNT2 old_JJ ,_, have_VH0 been_VBN called_VVN "_" the_AT Stonehenge_NP1 of_IO the_AT Amazon_NP1 ._. "_" 
"_" Anthropologists_NN2 ,_, "_" Heckenberger_NP1 said_VVD ,_, "_" made_VVD the_AT mistake_NN1 of_IO coming_VVG into_II the_AT Amazon_NP1 in_II the_AT twentieth_MD century_NNT1 and_CC seeing_VVG only_RR small_JJ tribes_NN2 and_CC saying_VVG ,_, 'Well_VV0 ,_, that_DD1 's_VBZ all_DB there_EX is_VBZ ._. '_" 
The_AT problem_NN1 is_VBZ that_CST ,_, by_II then_RT ,_, many_DA2 Indian_JJ populations_NN2 had_VHD already_RR been_VBN wiped_VVN out_RP by_II what_DDQ was_VBDZ essentially_RR a_AT1 holocaust_NN1 from_II European_JJ contact_NN1 ._. 
That_DD1 's_VBZ why_RRQ the_AT first_MD Europeans_NN2 in_II the_AT Amazon_NP1 described_VVD such_DA massive_JJ settlements_NN2 that_CST ,_, later_RRR ,_, no_PN121 one_PN122 could_VM ever_RR find_VVI ._. "_" 
As_CSA we_PPIS2 walked_VVD back_RP into_II the_AT Kuikuro_NN1 village_NN1 ,_, Heckenberger_NP1 stopped_VVD at_II the_AT edge_NN1 of_IO the_AT plaza_NN1 and_CC told_VVD me_PPIO1 to_TO examine_VVI it_PPH1 closely_RR ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD that_CST the_AT civilization_NN1 that_CST had_VHD built_VVN the_AT giant_JJ settlements_NN2 had_VHD nearly_RR been_VBN annihilated_VVN ._. 
Yet_RR a_AT1 small_JJ number_NN1 of_IO descendants_NN2 had_VHD survived_VVN ,_, and_CC we_PPIS2 were_VBDR no_RR21 doubt_RR22 among_II them_PPHO2 ._. 
For_IF a_AT1 thousand_NNO years_NNT2 ,_, he_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, the_AT Xinguanos_NP1 had_VHD maintained_VVN artistic_JJ and_CC cultural_JJ traditions_NN2 from_II this_DD1 highly_RR advanced_VVN ,_, highly_RR structured_JJ civilization_NN1 ._. 
He_PPHS1 said_VVD ,_, for_REX21 instance_REX22 ,_, that_CST the_AT present-day_JJ Kuikuro_NN1 village_NN1 was_VBDZ still_RR organized_VVN along_II east_ND1 and_CC west_ND1 cardinal_JJ points_NN2 and_CC its_APPGE paths_NN2 were_VBDR aligned_VVN at_II right_JJ angles_NN2 ,_, though_CS its_APPGE residents_NN2 no_RR21 longer_RR22 knew_VVD why_RRQ this_DD1 was_VBDZ the_AT preferred_JJ pattern_NN1 ._. 
Heckenberger_NP1 added_VVD that_CST he_PPHS1 had_VHD taken_VVN a_AT1 piece_NN1 of_IO pottery_NN1 from_II the_AT ruins_NN2 and_CC shown_VVN it_PPH1 to_II a_AT1 local_JJ maker_NN1 of_IO ceramics_NN2 ._. 
It_PPH1 was_VBDZ so_RG similar_JJ to_II presentday_NN1 pottery_NN1 ,_, with_IW its_APPGE painted_JJ exterior_NN1 and_CC reddish_JJ clay_NN1 ,_, that_CST the_AT potter_NN1 insisted_VVD it_PPH1 had_VHD been_VBN made_VVN recently_RR ._. 
As_CSA Paolo_NP1 and_CC I_PPIS1 headed_VVD toward_II the_AT chief_NN1 's_GE house_NN1 ,_, Heckenberger_NP1 picked_VVD up_RP a_AT1 contemporary_JJ ceramic_JJ pot_NN1 and_CC ran_VVD his_APPGE hand_NN1 along_II the_AT edge_NN1 ,_, where_CS there_EX were_VBDR grooves_NN2 ._. 
"_" They_PPHS2 're_VBR from_II boiling_VVG the_AT toxins_NN2 out_II21 of_II22 manioc_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
He_PPHS1 had_VHD detected_VVN the_AT same_DA feature_NN1 in_II the_AT ancient_JJ pots_NN2 ._. 
"_" That_DD1 means_VVZ that_CST a_AT1 thousand_NNO years_NNT2 ago_RA people_NN in_II this_DD1 civilization_NN1 had_VHD the_AT same_DA staple_NN1 of_IO diet_NN1 ,_, "_" he_PPHS1 said_VVD ._. 
He_PPHS1 began_VVD to_TO go_VVI through_II the_AT house_NN1 ,_, finding_VVG parallels_NN2 between_II the_AT ancient_JJ civilization_NN1 and_CC its_APPGE remnants_NN2 today_RT :_: the_AT clay_NN1 statues_NN2 ,_, the_AT thatched_JJ walls_NN2 and_CC roofs_NN2 ,_, the_AT cotton_NN1 hammocks_NN2 ._. 
"_" To_TO tell_VVI you_PPY the_AT honest-to-God_JJ truth_NN1 ,_, I_PPIS1 do_VD0 n't_XX think_VVI there_RL is_VBZ anywhere_RL in_II the_AT world_NN1 where_CS there_EX is_VBZ n't_XX written_VVN history_NN1 where_CS the_AT continuity_NN1 is_VBZ so_RG clear_JJ as_CSA right_RR here_RL ,_, "_" Heckenberger_NP1 said_VVD ._. 
Some_DD of_IO the_AT musicians_NN2 and_CC dancers_NN2 were_VBDR circling_VVG through_II the_AT plaza_NN1 ,_, and_CC Heckenberger_NP1 said_VVD that_CST everywhere_RL in_II the_AT Kuikuro_NN1 village_NN1 "_" you_PPY can_VM see_VVI the_AT past_NN1 in_II the_AT present_NN1 ._. "_" 
I_PPIS1 began_VVD to_TO picture_VVI the_AT flutists_NN2 and_CC dancers_NN2 in_II one_MC1 of_IO the_AT old_JJ plazas_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 pictured_VVD them_PPHO2 living_VVG in_II moundshaped_JJ two-story_JJ houses_NN2 ,_, the_AT houses_NN2 not_XX scattered_VVN but_CCB in_II endless_JJ rows_NN2 ,_, where_CS women_NN2 wove_VVD hammocks_NN2 and_CC baked_VVN with_IW manioc_NN1 flour_NN1 and_CC where_CS teenage_JJ boys_NN2 and_CC girls_NN2 were_VBDR held_VVN in_II seclusion_NN1 as_CSA they_PPHS2 learned_VVD the_AT rites_NN2 of_IO their_APPGE ancestors_NN2 ._. 
I_PPIS1 pictured_VVD the_AT dancers_NN2 and_CC singers_NN2 crossing_VVG moats_NN2 and_CC passing_VVG through_II tall_JJ palisade_NN1 fences_NN2 ,_, moving_VVG from_II one_MC1 village_NN1 to_II the_AT next_MD along_II wide_JJ boulevards_NN2 and_CC bridges_NN2 and_CC causeways_NN2 ._. 
