essay

Paleoecology and Tiwanaku agroecosystems

tiwanaku and its hinterland : archaeology and paleoecology on an andean civilizationWashington, Dc • Published In 1996 • Pages: 89-108

By: Binford, Michael W., Brenner, Mark, Leyden, Barbara W..

Abstract
This chapter describes the field research and the results of the soils testing from near the archaeological sites discussed in this book and from several areas in the lake. Using this data the authors reconstruct the lake levels and some of the climate changes for the last fifteen thousand years. They found no change in the pollen record at the family or genus level as the domesticated crops are the same genera as the non-domesticated plants found in the area. The authors also found that raised fields slow the movement of dissolved and particulate matter into the lake and that the canals between the raised fields grow nitrogen-fixing organisms which can help grow the crops and can indirectly enhance fish production.
Subjects
Topography and geology
Soil
Flora
Tillage
tradition
Tiahuanaco
HRAF PubDate
2003
Region
South America
Sub Region
Central Andes
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Natural Scientist
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry ; 2002
Field Date
before 1992
Coverage Date
2000 BP-1000 BP
Coverage Place
southern Lake Titicaca basin; Bolivia
Notes
Michael W. Binford, Mark Brenner, and Barbara W. Leyden
For bibliographical references see document 8: Kolata
LCCN
95005837
LCSH
Indians of South America--Antiquities