Water reservoirs in Casabindo irrigation networks (Cochinoca department, Jujuy, Argentina): Technological variability and ancestral water management
The Casabindo pre-Hispanic societies in the Puna of Jujuy used/employed specific strategies to address environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity. One of them was the construction of water reservoirs for agricultural irrigation. These reservoirs, however, have received comparatively limit...
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| Autores principales: | , , , , , , , |
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| Formato: | Artículo revista |
| Lenguaje: | Español |
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Instituto de Arqueología, Facultad de Filosofía y Letras, Universidad de Buenos Aires
2024
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| Acceso en línea: | http://revistascientificas.filo.uba.ar/index.php/Arqueologia/article/view/13408 |
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| Sumario: | The Casabindo pre-Hispanic societies in the Puna of Jujuy used/employed specific strategies to address environmental challenges, particularly water scarcity. One of them was the construction of water reservoirs for agricultural irrigation. These reservoirs, however, have received comparatively limited scientific attention in contrast to other hydraulic mechanisms. Casabindo has important examples of pre-Hispanic water reservoirs, which were used in the Late Inka period and are exceptionally well-suited for the investigation of ancestral hydraulic technologies. Our goal is to provide a comprehensive description of the technological characteristics and operational aspects of water reservoirs identified in the region, using remote sensing, georeferencing in the field, and spatial analysis in a Geographic Information System. The analysis of structures Po-δ, Po-ε, Cap-δ, and Ta-φ, in addition to a newly discovered reservoir (Po-α), reveals the ancestral knowledge about water management and the diverse constructive techniques employed in creating these reservoirs. We have identified key patterns, particularly/mainly the construction of dams, indicating that the greatest time investment was applied to this part of the reservoir. Within the irrigation system, these reservoirs are usually located at the beginning, but the distance regarding the irrigated area varies with each system. This study significantly improves our understanding of irrigation systems by establishing connections between these structures/devices and new agricultural sectors, thereby enriching our understanding of agricultural landscapes in Casabindo. |
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