DOI article:
Schjellerup, Inge R.: Observations on ridged fields and terracing systems in the northern highlands of Peru
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49002#0115
RIDGED FIELDS AND TERRACING SYSTEMS
109
cultivation tradition seems to lie behind
these concentric raised strips. The packed
stone filling in combination with the slope of
the concentric ridged and furrowed strips
provided effective drainage. The rather thick
humus layer may have been more productive
than the thinner layer in the other ridged
strips. pH values for the topsoil both in
stone terraces and in the concentric raised
strips came out at 6.5. Pollen samples taken
for analysis are not yet analysed.
Bove da
Further north in the district of Chuquibam-
ba a system of unfaced earth terraces covers a
whole mountain slope (some hundred ha)
near the pre-Inca site of Boveda (fig. 12) at
34-3600 m. Higher and broader horizontal
“shelves” alternate with smaller and nar-
rower earth terraces. A similar system is also
encountered around the site of Padron
Samana near the district town of Chu-
quibamba (see later). On the more level areas
further up the limestone mountain at Boveda
full recognition had been taken of the exist-
ence of several dolines or “sink-holes” (175-
250 m wide). The Indians had constructed
their ridged fields round these in such a way
that they appear like amphitheatres (fig. 14).
The whole “theatre” functions as a drain
Boved a
with the individual strips arranged so that
downward passages drain excess water into
the sink-hole. Measurements were taken and
drawn (fig. 13 and 15). No excavations were
carried out.
Padron Samana
At the pre-hispanic site of Padron Samana
some 4 km south-east of the district town of
Chuquibamba at 3500 m and some hundred
metres further up, the mountain slopes are
covered with larger and smaller earth ter-
races as in Boveda. The larger, broader ter-
races (c. 2.50 m high by 2-4 m wide) are
clearly visible on air photographs of 1962. It
is remarkable that they have resisted cen-
turies of rain without having been eroded
more than they have. No excavations were
carried out on the larger terraces but pre-
sumably the construction was of blocks of
sod with a layer of stones at the base, like the
fences constructed by the Indians to-day
(fig. 16). The larger earth terraces certainly
inhibited erosion.
The smaller curved earth terraces vary in
height from 0.60-0.90 m and in width from
0.90-1.50 m. They curve down slightly to
vertical low stone dikes (c. 0.70 m wide)
(fig. 17) which appear clearly from a distance
(fig. 18) as was the case in Atuen. The incli-
Fig. 13. Profile of single strips. Boveda. Drawn by I.S. in scale 1:50.
Profil einzelner Streifen. Boveda.
109
cultivation tradition seems to lie behind
these concentric raised strips. The packed
stone filling in combination with the slope of
the concentric ridged and furrowed strips
provided effective drainage. The rather thick
humus layer may have been more productive
than the thinner layer in the other ridged
strips. pH values for the topsoil both in
stone terraces and in the concentric raised
strips came out at 6.5. Pollen samples taken
for analysis are not yet analysed.
Bove da
Further north in the district of Chuquibam-
ba a system of unfaced earth terraces covers a
whole mountain slope (some hundred ha)
near the pre-Inca site of Boveda (fig. 12) at
34-3600 m. Higher and broader horizontal
“shelves” alternate with smaller and nar-
rower earth terraces. A similar system is also
encountered around the site of Padron
Samana near the district town of Chu-
quibamba (see later). On the more level areas
further up the limestone mountain at Boveda
full recognition had been taken of the exist-
ence of several dolines or “sink-holes” (175-
250 m wide). The Indians had constructed
their ridged fields round these in such a way
that they appear like amphitheatres (fig. 14).
The whole “theatre” functions as a drain
Boved a
with the individual strips arranged so that
downward passages drain excess water into
the sink-hole. Measurements were taken and
drawn (fig. 13 and 15). No excavations were
carried out.
Padron Samana
At the pre-hispanic site of Padron Samana
some 4 km south-east of the district town of
Chuquibamba at 3500 m and some hundred
metres further up, the mountain slopes are
covered with larger and smaller earth ter-
races as in Boveda. The larger, broader ter-
races (c. 2.50 m high by 2-4 m wide) are
clearly visible on air photographs of 1962. It
is remarkable that they have resisted cen-
turies of rain without having been eroded
more than they have. No excavations were
carried out on the larger terraces but pre-
sumably the construction was of blocks of
sod with a layer of stones at the base, like the
fences constructed by the Indians to-day
(fig. 16). The larger earth terraces certainly
inhibited erosion.
The smaller curved earth terraces vary in
height from 0.60-0.90 m and in width from
0.90-1.50 m. They curve down slightly to
vertical low stone dikes (c. 0.70 m wide)
(fig. 17) which appear clearly from a distance
(fig. 18) as was the case in Atuen. The incli-
Fig. 13. Profile of single strips. Boveda. Drawn by I.S. in scale 1:50.
Profil einzelner Streifen. Boveda.