Timothy Quine’s scientific contributions

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Publications (1)


RECONSTRUCTING PRE-COLOMBIAN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN THE BOLIVIAN SAVANNAH: STRATIGRAPHIC AND PHYTOLITH EVIDENCE FROM RAISED FIELDS AT CAMPO ESPAÑA, WESTERN LLANOS DE MOXOS
  • Article
  • Full-text available

June 2016

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6 Reads

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13 Citations

Cadernos do LEPAARQ (UFPEL)

Ruth Dickau

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Timothy Quine

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Francis Mayle

Pre-Columbian inhabitants of the western Llanos de Moxos, Bolivia, transformed large expanses of seasonally flooded savannah into a complex agricultural landscape. Extensive raised field systems, along with associated canals and causeways, suggest a sophisticated approach to managing land and water resources for permanent, intensive, agricultural production. However, the detailed construction history, specific crops, and palaeoenvironmental impacts of these fields are poorly known. To investigate these issues, we analyzed stratigraphy and phytoliths from two raised fields (camellones) at the site of Campo España, western Beni, Bolivia. Results indicate that prior to field construction, vegetation was mainly palm savannah. A decline in arboreal phytolith frequencies is associated with human clearing and initial field construction. A peak in burnt grass phytoliths followed by an increase of Asteraceae, suggests a period of regular field maintenance and intensive agricultural use. Maize (Zea mays) and manioc (Manihot esculenta) were grown. A small increase in arboreal phytoliths suggests some forest recovery after field abandonment. This study demonstrates the utility of phytolith and stratigraphic analyses in reconstructing construction, cultivation, and palaeoenvironmental histories of raised field systems, and assessing their role within the advanced agricultural landscape management practiced by pre-Columbian populations in the Bolivian Amazon. Resumo: Os habitantes pré-colombianos de Llanos de Moxos ocidental, Bolívia, transformaram grandes áreas de uma savana sazonalmente inundada em complexas paisagens agrícolas. Extensos campos de plantação, assim como canais e caminhos associados, sugerem uma abordagem sofisticada para o manejo da terra e dos recursos aquáticos para produção agrícola intensiva e permanente. No entanto, detalhes sobre suas histórias construtivas, plantações específicas e os impactos paleoambientais destes campos são pouco conhecidos. Para investigar estas questões, analisamos a estratigrafia e os fitólitos de dois destes campos elevados (camellones) do sítio Campo España, oeste de Beni, Bolívia. Os resultados indicam que antes da construção dos campos, a vegetação era majoritariamente uma savana com palmeiras. O declínio na frequência de fitólitos arbóreos é associado com uma limpeza da área pela ação humana e o início das construções dos campos. Um pico nos fitólitos de grama queimada seguido porum aumento de Asteraceae, sugere um período de manutenção regular dos campos e uso agrícola intensivo. Eram cultivados milho (Zea mays) e possivelmente mandioca (Manihot esculenta). Um pequeno aumento dos fitólitos arbóreos sugere certo grau de recuperação da floresta após o abandono dos campos. Este estudo demonstra a utilidade de análises de fitólitos e estratigráficas na reconstrução dos processos de construção, cultivo e história paleoambiental dos sistemas de campos elevados e na avaliação de seus papeis dentro do avançado manejo de paisagens agrícolas praticadas por populações pré-colombianas na Amazônia boliviana.

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Citations (1)


... The abundance of maize remains recovered in the region 11,13,21,22,29 indicates that this crop played a key role in the emergence of the Casarabe culture and that these populations probably had well-developed maize agricultural systems 27 . Remains from a variety of other plants including manioc, sweet potatoes, squash, chili peppers, peanuts and unidentified palms have also been discovered 11,13,21,22,29,30 . Meanwhile, the discovery of muscovy duck remains in these same contexts suggests a potentially close relationship with one of the few animals to go on to be domesticated in the Neotropics 32 . ...

Reference:

Stable isotope evidence for pre-colonial maize agriculture and animal management in the Bolivian Amazon
RECONSTRUCTING PRE-COLOMBIAN AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES IN THE BOLIVIAN SAVANNAH: STRATIGRAPHIC AND PHYTOLITH EVIDENCE FROM RAISED FIELDS AT CAMPO ESPAÑA, WESTERN LLANOS DE MOXOS

Cadernos do LEPAARQ (UFPEL)