SEABIRD DROPPINGS (GUANO) & EXPANSION OF CHINCHA KINGDOM

News: Scientists discovered that people in Peru’s Chincha Valley used seabird droppings (guano) as fertilizer as early as 1250 ADà helped agriculture thrive in a dry coastal desert region and supported the socioeconomic and political expansion of the Chincha Kingdom.

Historical & Geographical Context

• Chincha Valley → Coastal desert region of Peru (South America)
• Guano = Accumulated excreta (droppings) of seabirds, bats, or seals used as a natural fertilizer
  • Guano: Very high in Nitrogen, rich in Phosphorus & Potassium

Guano -Helped Agriculture in a Desert

• Improved soil fertility
• Increased agricultural productivity
• Supported larger population
• Agricultureà sustainable even in an arid region.

Scientific Methods Used

• Isotope Analysis: Used to detect nitrogen signatures in soil/cropsàHelps identify fertilizer sources
• Carbon Dating: Determines age of organic material àConfirmed use of guano since ~1250 AD