Guano fuelled the rise of Pre-Inca powerhouse in Peru

Guano fuelled the rise of Pre-Inca powerhouse in Peru

A multidisciplinary study reveals that nutrient-rich seabird guano was a key driver of agricultural productivity and sociopolitical expansion in ancient coastal Peru – long before the rise of the Inca Empire. Published in PLOS ONE, the study presents some of the strongest archaeological and biochemical evidence that the accumulated droppings of marine birds played a defining role in the development of the Chincha Kingdom, one of the most powerfu…

Bird guano created wealth for ancient Peruvian community

How Ancient Peruvian Civilization Gained Power Through Guano Harvesting

Valued for Centuries: Peruvian Pelican and Booby Droppings Biljana Aljinovic/Alamy A potent fertilizer derived from seabird droppings likely played a crucial role in the rise of Peru’s agricultural kingdom 900 years ago, contributing to its eventual conquest by the Incas. Recent chemical analysis of ancient corn cobs from southern Peru revealed elevated nitrogen isotope levels, [...] The post How Ancient Peruvian Civilization Gained Power Throug…