<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Total population </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Td_colspan="2"> 3,000 </Td> </Tr> <P> Xingu peoples are indigenous peoples of Brazil living near the Xingu River . They have many cultural similarities despite their different ethnologies . Xingu people represent fifteen tribes and all four of Brazil's indigenous language groups, but they share similar belief systems, rituals and ceremonies . </P> <P> The Upper Xingu region was heavily populated prior to European and African contact . Densely populated settlements developed from 1200 to 1600 AD . Ancient roads and bridges linked communities that were often surrounded by ditches or moats . The villages were pre-planned and featured circular plazas . Archaeologists have unearthed 19 villages so far . </P>

The upper xingu region of the amazon rainforest