Pre-Hispanic Ridged Fields of the Casma Valley, Peru

Ridged fields in the Casma Valley on the desert coast of Peru date chiefly to the Late Intermediate Period (circa A. D. 1300 to 1500), although their use might have extended into early colonial times. There are approximately 200 hectares of well-preserved fields, but the original extent might have been as much as 3100 hectares. The remains of incomplete segments of fields indicate a construction sequence. The patterning of the ridged fields was probably derived from local prehistorical irrigated fields.