Environmental Science
Terra Preta: Anthropogenic Dark Earths and Pre-Columbian Soil Management
Quick fact
Terra preta is not natural—it was created by indigenous peoples over hundreds of years, and it contains pottery shards and up to 70 times more carbon than adjacent soils.
Why this is interesting
Imagine a patch of soil in the middle of the Amazon rainforest that is so dark and fertile that farmers have used it for centuries—while the surrounding ground is practically lifeless. What made this 'magic' soil, and who created it?