Puquios
The Puquios are an old system of subterranean aqueducts near the city of Nazca, Peru. Out of 36 Puquios, most are still functioning [1] and relied upon to bring fresh water into the arid desert. The Puquios have never been fully mapped, nor have any been excavated.[2]
Debate about age
There is conflicting research regarding when the aqueducts were actually built. Some archaeologists contend that they were built by Pre-Columbian Nazca architects around A.D. 540 in response to two prolonged droughts during that time, others doubt that. There is a general lack of historical reference both after and prior to the Spanish Empire. The first historical writing of their existence was in 1605 by Reginaldo de Lizárraga, which some contend may indicate that they were built by the Spanish.[3] There, however, is yet no evidence from Spanish texts that mentions a project to build the Puquios,[4] nor is there evidence in early Spanish texts of water systems being already in place when they conquered the territory.[5]
In their book Irrigation and Society in the Peruvian Desert, Katharina Schreiber and Josue Lancho Rojas explore puquios and show evidence that puquios were constructed by a pre-Hispanic civilization. Monica Barnes and David Fleming on the other hand, argue that Schreiber et al misinterpreted evidence and that there are easier explanations for a construction in colonial times.[5]
References
- Barnes, Monica (10 September 1992). "Dating of Nazca aqueducts". Nature 359. Retrieved May 2016.
- Proulx, Donald A. Rickenbach, Judith, ed. "Nasca Puquios and Aqueducts" (PDF). University of Massachusetts.
External links
- "Scientists have just solved an ancient Peruvian mystery from space"
- Donald A.Proulx. "The Nasca Lines Project (1996-2000)". University of Massachusetts. Retrieved May 2016.
Coordinates: 14°49′36″S 74°54′35″W / 14.826618°S 74.909607°W