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

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.