South America’s unknown ancient path

Not as old, but there's the Oregon Trail, as well as the shorter Mormon Trail and Santa Fe Trail.

Not quite the same, but I have an interest in this too. The challenges anyone trying to do this on foot/by water are insane. I can recommend a few award winning book recommendations from those that have done it:

1. Beyond the Trees by Adam Shoalts. A 4000km solo unsupported trip from the Yukon to Nunavut in the high artic, somewhat surprising he could do this. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/597600/beyond-the-tr...

2. The Sun is a Compass by Caroline Van Hemert. A similar 4000 mile couple's trip over 6 months. https://www.carolinevanhemert.com/book

3. Atlas of a Lost World by Craig Childs. A little less scientific but a great read, he goes through paleolithic human migration in north america which hints at these patterns of migration and trade. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/227860/atlas-of-a-l...

Genocide singular, or plural?

The path is thousands of years old, and like other ancient features the pre-Conquistador locals likely did not know its origin. Because if you consider the massacres and assimilation perpetrated by the Conquistadors to be genocide, throughout South America there were over a thousand years of other genocides by the Mayan, Incan, Chimor, Aztec, and other empires against smaller kingdoms and tribes.

It is misleading to pretend that knowledge was perfect anywhere in the world, because verbal and written history is flawed and brutal disruptions were regular.