STRATIGRAPHIC ANALYSIS OF SEDIMENTS FROM AGRICULTURAL FIELDS NEAR PATARAYA, FOR THE PATARAYA-AYACUCHO ARCHAEOLOGICAL PROJECT, PERU

Summary

The Pataraya-Ayacucho Archaeological Project excavated three areas during the 2007

field season. The domestic site of Pataraya, which is the main focus of the project, was

sampled stratigraphically (column 1). An ancient agricultural terrace near the domestic site was

sampled in column 2. Finally, Locus B, which includes an agricultural terrace located a

significant distance upvalley from Pataraya, is represented in column 3. Only columns 2 and 3,

representing agricultural terraces denoted A-1 and B-2, respectively, were examined for pollen

in this study.

Pollen sampling and analysis was undertaken to provide a record of both environmental

changes and economic activities to use as a backdrop for interpreting findings from Pataraya,

which exhibits a single Wari (750-1100 AD) occupation. Economics might have motivated the

Wari’s interest in this area. The goal of pollen analysis is to provide broad reconstruction,

through both time and space, of the environment and agricultural activities. Macrobotanic

analysis, conducted elsewhere, is proceeding on samples from house floors, hearths, use

areas, etc. It should be noted that pollen analysis of house floors and use areas is likely to

provide additional information concerning the economy of subsistence.

The columns sampled for pollen were excavated to rather deep depths in the hope of

capturing information about pre- and post-Wari economic activities and environmental

conditions and possible changes in the valley. By sampling sediments that accumulated prior to

the arrival of the Wari, it is possible to identify changes associated with the Wari occupation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• PaleoResearch Institute

File Information