The Huari and agriculture

The Huari and agriculture

The Huari or Wari were a pre-Inca civilization, which developed in the Andes, in the south of modern Peru, in the period called the middle horizon, precisely between the 6th and 13th centuries.
The capital of the Huari Empire was located near the modern city of Ayacucho, in present-day Peru. This city was the center of a civilization that covered many of the highlands and coasts of modern Peru.

History –
The Huari civilization was one of the ancient pre-Inca civilizations that flourished in the central Andes of Peru between the 8th and 12th centuries AD. Its main capital was located in the current Ayacucho region, in the Andean plateau.
This civilization had its roots around the 8th century AD, during the period known as the Horizon Temprano of the Andes. The Huari appear to have emerged from the Ayacucho region and began to establish a highly organized culture.
The Huari had a highly hierarchical and centralized society. Their economy was based mainly on agriculture, with crops such as corn, potatoes and cotton. Furthermore, they practiced breeding of llamas and alpacas.
The Huari are known for their architectural skills. They built large ceremonial complexes, fortified citadels, and networks of paved streets. Their structures were often made of precisely crafted stone and were precursors to later Inca architecture.
The Huari civilization expanded rapidly during its peak, conquering many of the surrounding cultures. This made their empire one of the largest in ancient pre-Inca Peru. They established a network of administrative and military centers throughout their empire.
Towards the end of the 12th century, the Huari civilization began to decline. The exact reasons for the decline are unclear, but factors such as overpopulation, internal warfare, disease and climate change may have contributed to the collapse of civilization.
Despite the decline of the Huari civilization, their cultural influence persisted. The Inca later absorbed some of their architectural and organizational techniques. Furthermore, the Huari culture has been an important reference point for scholars to understand the ancient civilizations of the Andes.
The Huari civilization was one of the most advanced and influential cultures of the pre-Inca Andes, with impressive architecture and a highly organized system of government. Its history and legacy continue to be studied and discovered in the Andean regions of Peru.
The Huari civilization was contemporary with that of Tiahuanaco and artistically shared many attributes. Contact between the two cultures appears to have been limited to a period of 50 years, during which there were sporadic skirmishes over a mine first occupied by the Tihuanaco. The mine marked the boundary between the spheres of influence of the two cultures and the Huari attempted, unsuccessfully, to secure exclusive possession of it.
The architecturally significant Huari Empire established distinct administrative centers in many of its provinces. About 300 years after the collapse of the Huari Empire, the Tahuantinsuyu (i.e. the Inca Empire) became the dominant power in the Andean region.

Agriculture –
In the Huari civilization, agriculture was an important part of their economy and society.
The Huari were known for building complex systems of agricultural terraces, known as “andenerías”. These terraces allowed crops to be grown on sloping mountainous terrain and increased agricultural productivity.
The field terracing method practiced by the Huari was adopted by the Incas to improve production activities on their lands. Furthermore, the Huari had a complex and extensive road system, which later became part of the Inca road system.
The main crops grown by the Huari included corn, potatoes, beans, quinoa, and other grains. These crops formed the basis of their diet and agricultural economy.
The Huari used advanced agricultural techniques, such as irrigation, to ensure a constant supply of water for their crops. They also used rudimentary agricultural tools, such as wooden and stone hoes.
To store excess food, the Huari built underground food warehouses known as “qochas”. These depots allowed them to store and distribute food during times of famine or crisis.
The Huari had religious beliefs related to agriculture. Their religious ceremonies were often tied to the planting and harvest seasons, in which they prayed for the success of the crops.
The Huari civilization was involved in trading activities, exchanging their agricultural products with other cultures in the region. This trade contributed to the diversification of their diet and the acquisition of external resources.
The Huari were an important pre-Inca civilization with a strong agricultural economy, which played a fundamental role in their growth and creation of a complex society.

Agricultural tools and crops –
The society of this civilization was based on agriculture, and agricultural tools and crops were fundamental to their survival.
The Huarì used plows to work the land. Plows were made of wood and had a metal or stone blade that allowed the soil to be plowed.
Hoes were used to dig and prepare the soil for planting. They were often made of wood or bone.
The Huarì used sickles and knives for harvesting and cutting plants and cereals.
They also used rakes and pitchforks which were used for preparing the land and harvesting crops.
As regards the crops in detail, these were mainly represented by corn, beans, potatoes, quinoa, barley and amaranth.
Corn was a fundamental crop for the Huarì. It was cultivated in various varieties and formed an important part of their diet.
Beans were grown in combination with corn, and growing these two plants together is known as “three sisters” cultivation, in which the corn served as support for the runner beans.
Potatoes were another vital crop for the Huarì. There were different varieties of potatoes, and they were grown in soils adapted to their growth.
Quinoa was another important food crop of the Huarì. This cereal was rich in proteins and nutrients and was grown on their lands.
Other crops grown by the Huarì included barley and amaranth, which provided a variety of foods in their diet.
The Huarì were known for their hydraulic engineering skills and the construction of complex irrigation systems, which allowed them to cultivate land at high altitudes in the Andes. These crops formed the basis of their diet and economy, and agricultural tools were critical to managing these crops and ensuring their survival as an agricultural society.
Furthermore, this civilization was characterized by complex and interesting artistic creations. In the village of Huacauara there are eight lithosculptures or bas-reliefs, originating from the main temple. They represent human figures with a serious and calm appearance, dressed in large cloaks of ceremonial and clerical style. The most important Huari artistic remains, however, are represented by ceramics and textiles. Through the study of these artistic creations one can understand in detail the life and traditions of the Huari people.
Initially, ceramics were characterized by being made up of large polychrome vases, used for ritual offerings. Subsequently, the dominant iconographies were the cabezas trophy (heads severed and shown as trophies, to make enemies aware of their fearsomeness), and the serpent, symbol of the underworld. The colors mainly used were bright red, white and grey, often outlined by black. Large Conchopata, Robles Moqo and Pacheco style vases were also found, clearly influenced by Tiahuanaco, characterized by the symbolism of the Sun and decorated with images of deities and medicinal plants. It is common to notice the sacred image of Viracocha, the Supreme Creator, as seen in the puerta del Sol, in Tiahuanaco, accompanied by 4 male and 4 female figures. In fact, numerology is very important in Andean culture, with 4, 8 and 9 considered sacred numbers.
In 2013, the first royal tomb of this people was found with three buried queens and their respective treasures: gold sewing tools, gold and silver earrings, silver bowls, bronze ritual axes, an alabaster chalice, containers for coca leaves, brightly colored ceramics and other objects.

Guido Bissanti

Photo source:
– https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huari#/media/File:Piquillacta_Archaeological_site_-_street.jpg