![Irrigation and Society in the Peruvian Desert]( "Irrigation and Society in the Peruvian Desert")
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About this book
Irrigation and Society: The Puquios of Nasca looks at the legendary puquios of Nasca, the underground aqueduct system built by Incans which is arguably responsible for this desert region's strange abundance of water. Authors Katharina Schreiber and Josu- Lancho explore the puqios, their probable means of construction and their function in ancient society to address the larger issue of the role of large scale irrigation in the emergence of soci-political complexity.
Contents
Nasca - jewel of the Peruvian South coast; the natural environment and hydrology of Nasca - the problem of the lack of water; Puquios - the solution to the problem; puquios of the Nasca irrigation sector; puquios of the Aja irrigation sector; puquios of the Tierras Blancas irrigation sector; puquios of the Taruga irrigation sector; puquios of the Las Trancas irrigation sector; the dating of the puquios; conclusion - the role of the puquios in ancient Nasca society.
Customer Reviews
By: Katharina Schreiber and Josue Lancho
This worthy and meticulous study of a precolumbian irrigation system on the desert south coast of Peru is most especially notable for two reasons that transcend its particular geo-cultural focus. First, the book should receive widespread praise for its focus on "irrigation and society." It is healthy for the profession to be reminded of the fundamental fact that 'human populations require food' and that 'agriculture requires a detailed knowledge of the natural environment.' Second, the equitable collaboration of a U.S. academic archaeologist with a local intellectual sets a high ethical standard for the conduct of research and career management that should be emulated.--Helaine Silverman
