Implications of the Fluvial History of the Wacheqsa River for Hydrologic Engineering and Water Use at Chavin de Huantar, Peru

摘要

Channeling of water through a variety of architectural features represents a significant engi-neering investment at the first millennium B.C. ceremonial center of Chavin de Huantar in thePeruvian Central Andes. The site contains extensive evidence of the manipulation of water,apparently for diverse purposes. The present configuration of the two local rivers, however,keeps available water approximately 9 m below the highest level of water-bearing infrastruc-ture in the site. Geomorphic and archaeological investigation of the fluvial history of theWacheqsa River has revealed evidence that the Chavin-era configuration of the WacheqsaRiver was different. A substantially higher water level, likely the result of a local impound-ment of river water caused by a landslide dam, made the provision of water for the hydro-logic system within the site a more readily practical possibility. We review what is known ofthat system and argue that the fluvial history of the Wacheqsa River is critical to understandingthis aspect of hydrologic engineering and ritual practice at Chavin. This study demonstratesthe relative rapidity and archaeological relevance of landscape change in a dynamic environ-ment.