Andean Terrace Agriculture

Timeline

1. c. -1000–600Wari culture site area · PeruCultures such as Chavín, Moche, and Wari built early platforms and irrigation channels on Andean slopes, initially organizing farmland to suit vertical climate zones.
2. c. 1200–1530Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley · CuscoThe Inca Empire used state corvée labor to build large-scale stone terraces and irrigation networks; terraces at places such as Machu Picchu served agricultural, ritual, and soil-conservation functions, supporting imperial grain reserves.
3. c. 1530–1950Rural highlands of Peru · PeruSpanish colonial rule introduced large estates and mine labor; many Inca terraces fell into disuse or were converted to pasture, but Quechua farmers continued small-scale terrace farming in remote valleys.
4. c. 1980Moray terraces · CuscoArchaeotourism and agroecology projects have driven terrace restoration; local communities maintain irrigation systems with traditional knowledge, and terraces have become a local response to climate change and food security.