EXPLORATORY POLLEN ANALYSIS ON TERRACES AT MACHU PICCHU, PERU

Pollen analysis of three samples per hole, collected at standard intervals of 0-5 inches, 5-15
inches, and 15-25 inches below the surface (Table 1) represents five holes on five of the
agricultural terraces at Machu Pichu. This is the first pollen analysis conducted on these terraces.
Specific goals for this analysis included:
1) identifying pollen present to assess the quality of pollen preservation in the samples and
the potential for future analysis,
2) examining the pollen record for evidence of plants growing on the terraces and/or nearby
to provide a record of vegetation, and
3) identifying the presence of pollen or other organic remains that might represent
agricultural crops grown on these terraces.
Five agricultural terraces spaced across the terrace system were selected for testing.
These terraces include a remote terrace, represented by samples from Hole 1, as well as terraces
more centrally located.

针对马丘比丘（Machu Pichu）5处农业梯田的5个钻孔，按地表以下0-5英寸、5-15英寸及15-25英寸的标准深度间隔采集样品，每个钻孔采集3份，开展花粉分析（表1）。这是针对该类梯田开展的首次花粉分析研究。本分析的具体研究目标如下：
1） 检出样品中的花粉，以评估样本内花粉的保存质量，以及后续开展相关分析的可行性；
2） 分析花粉记录，寻找梯田及周边区域生长的植物相关证据，以重建该区域的植被历史；
3） 检出可能代表本梯田种植农作物的花粉及其他有机遗存。
本次研究选取了分布于整个梯田系统的5处农业梯田开展检测，其中以钻孔1样品为代表的一处为偏远梯田，其余则为位置更靠近中心的梯田。