Answer :
The correct statement is: "Their sites include canals, water tunnels, and irrigation canals for crops."
The Wari civilization, which predated the Inca Empire in the Andean region of South America, is credited with the development of terrace farming, a sophisticated agricultural technique that transformed steep slopes into arable land. The evidence for the Wari's role in developing terrace farming lies in the archaeological remains found at their sites. These sites often include sophisticated systems of canals, water tunnels, and irrigation canals designed to provide water to crops grown on terraced fields.
Terrace farming is particularly important in mountainous regions where flat land is scarce. By constructing terraces, the Wari were able to create level areas for agriculture, which also helped to prevent soil erosion and conserve water. The presence of advanced water management systems at Wari archaeological sites indicates that they had a deep understanding of hydraulic engineering and were able to sustain large populations through intensive agriculture.
While the Wari did grow chicha, a type of corn beer, and the Inca later used chicha as well, this fact alone does not establish the Wari as the original developers of terrace farming. Similarly, the use of the Pikillaqta system, which is an urban planning method, and the quipu, a system of knotted strings used for record-keeping and accounting, do not directly relate to the development of terrace farming.
Therefore, the existence of canals, water tunnels, and irrigation canals for crops at Wari sites is the most compelling evidence that they were the original developers of terrace farming. These features are indicative of a culture that had mastered the art of agriculture on challenging terrain, setting the stage for later civilizations like the Inca to expand upon these techniques.
Final answer:
Scholars attribute early terrace farming to the Wari due to their advancements in creating arable land on mountain slopes through retaining walls and soil management, forming the basis for prosperous agriculture that was later expanded by Inca civilization.
Explanation:
Why do scholars say the Wari were the original developers of terrace farming? This assertion stems from the understanding that preceding Andean civilizations, including the Wari, built upon and improved agricultural practices such as terrace farming, which were essential for supporting large populations in challenging environments. The Waris are considered some of the innovative developers of terrace farming due to their geographical location in the mountainous highlands of southeastern Peru, where they had to adapt their agricultural practices to the steep terrain.
Through terrace farming, the Waris and other Andean cultures, such as the Tiwanaku, were able to create flat, arable plots on mountain slopes by forming retaining walls filled with loose stones for drainage, topped with soil. This innovation allowed for more efficient water management, soil retention, and micro-climates conducive to varied crop cultivation. These agricultural adaptations were crucial economical foundations leading to the success of Andean civilizations.
While the Inca later became famous for their extensive terrace farming systems throughout the Andes, these were likely expansions on earlier practices developed by groups like the Wari. In this way, terrace farming is attributed to the Wari not necessarily as the sole inventors but as early, significant contributors to the technology that would later become a hallmark of Andean agriculture and a testament to their engineering skills.
