Terrace Farming Was Invented In South American Andes Over 1,000 Years Ago
AncientPages.com - Terrace farming was invented in South American Andes over 1,000 years ago.
The Wari' people, also known as the Pakaa Nova, an indigenous people of Brazil, as well as other peoples of the south-central Andes started to grow potatoes, maize, and other native crops on graduated terrace steps.
This practice was later adopted by the Incas because they lived in the mountains and flat land was rare. The Incas were masters of their harsh climate and they created their own flat land by building steps of land for agriculture down the mountain side.
They cut terraces into the hillsides, progressively steeper, from the valleys up the slopes. Instead of rainwater running down the mountain side, the Inca channeled it through each step. They also built aqueducts to carry water where it was needed. At the Incan civilization’s height in the 1400s, the system of terraces covered about a million hectares throughout Peru and fed the vast empire.
There is no doubt the Incas were great farmers, with clever solutions to their farming problems. The Incas grew potatoes, many fruit and vegetables, and coco leaves to make chocolate. The Incas grew so much food that they needed ways to preserve it, and so they dried it out and stored it.
See also:
Chinampas: Artificial Islands Created By The Aztecs To Improve Agriculture
Chocolate Was Invented In Mesoamerica 1900 B.C.
Ancient Mayans Used Saunas For Healing Purposes
The ghost of the Incas’ farming achievements still shadows the Andes. The remnants of ancient terraces appear as lines of green on the mountains. Former irrigation canals carve hollows into the land.
Today, in a corner of the Andes, people are breathing new life into ancient practices. Inspired by recent archaeological research, they are rebuilding terraces and irrigation systems and reclaiming traditional crops and methods of planting.
They do this in part because Incan agricultural techniques are more productive and more efficient in terms of water use. But these modern farmers also believe the Incan ways can offer simple solutions to help protect communities’ food supply in the face of climate change.
Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com
More From Ancient Pages
-
Proteus: Prophetic Greek Sea God Who Knew All Things, Past, Present And Future
Featured Stories | Jan 17, 2020
-
Collapse Of Akkadian Empire Strongly Related To Catastrophic Climate Change
Archaeology | Oct 28, 2019
-
Did The Unique Gjermundbu Viking Helmet Belong To A Warrior Who Served Rulers In The East?
Archaeology | Feb 8, 2022
-
Skeletal Remains Of A 1,500-Year-Old Byzantine Ascetic Monk, Chained In Iron Rings – Uncovered Near Jerusalem
Archaeology | Jan 4, 2023
-
Delatores – Who Were The Professional Gossip Collectors In Ancient Rome?
Ancient History Facts | Feb 2, 2021
-
Elusive Celtic Otherworld Where Tuatha Dé Danann Reside And Time Passes Slower
Celtic Mythology | Apr 7, 2018
-
Unraveling The Mystery Behind The Perplexing Story Of Pied Piper Of Hamelin
Featured Stories | Sep 29, 2015
-
10 Mysterious Ancient Stones In North America That Could Re-Write History
Civilizations | May 25, 2020
-
3,000 Years Ago Human Activity Destroyed Vegetation And Irreparably Damaged The Timna Valley Environment
Archaeology | Sep 23, 2022
-
New Hope To Finally Find Tomb Of Alexander The Great
Archaeology | Mar 6, 2019
-
The Prophecy Of The Rainbow Warriors And Future Of Planet Earth
Featured Stories | Aug 29, 2018
-
Ivan The Terrible: Military Arsenal Unearthed Near Moscow
Archaeology | Jan 2, 2016
-
Underground Orvieto – Etruscan ‘City Under A City’ With Labyrinth, Tunnels, Pyramidal Structures, Oil Mills And Water Supply
Featured Stories | Jul 2, 2022
-
Codex Gigas – The Devil’s Bible – Ancient Secrets Of The World’s Largest Book
Artifacts | Jun 15, 2014
-
Magnificent Golden Silk Cloth Made By 1 Million Spiders Is One Of The World’s Rarest Silk Textiles
Artifacts | May 20, 2021
-
Catherine De Medici – Queen Of France Supported Nostradamus, Was Suspected Of Poisoning And Blamed For Horrible Massacre
Featured Stories | Dec 17, 2018
-
Reliefs And Engravings Of Celestial Bodies And A Zodiac On Walls And Ceilings Of Luxor’s Esna Temple
Archaeology | Oct 5, 2023
-
Ancient Europeans Ate Seaweed And Freshwater Plants – Evidence Found
Archaeology | Oct 17, 2023
-
LIDAR Discovers Circular Iron Age Village At Cap d’Erquy, France
Archaeology | Apr 4, 2024
-
1,300-Year-Old Mayan Maize God Sculpture Found in Palenque, Mexico
Archaeology | Jun 2, 2022