Pre-Hispanic terrace agricultural practices and long-distance transfer of plant taxa in the southern-central Peruvian Andes revealed by phytolith and pollen analysis

• DOI: 10.1007/s00334-023-00946-w
• Publication Date: 2023-08-29T15:03:18Z
• Authors: Josephine Handley; Nicholas Branch; Frank M. Meddens; Michael Simmonds; José Iriarte
• Keywords: Phytolith; Terrace (agriculture); Arecaceae

Abstract The archaeological excavation of two abandoned prehispanic agricultural terraces (Infiernillo and Tocotoccasa) in the Chicha-Soras Valley (Apurimac) southern-central Peru revealed presence palaeosols. palaeosols represent soil that developed following construction during Middle Horizon. profiles at current surface reconstruction Late Intermediate Period. Phytolith analysis an unexpected Arecaceae (palm family) Marantaceae (arrowroot both terraces, which has been attributed to local cultivation and/or transportation use soil, dung, plant material or implements (made Arecaceae) on terrace surfaces. Pollen a nearby wetland (Ayapampa) did not provide evidence for Marantaceae. Both phytolith pollen (respectively) indicated Zea mays was cultivated locally Horizon Period, although phytoliths maize are absent from record Solanaceae Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae may be indicative further important taxa continued into together with .