Did seabird poop fuel rise of Chincha in Peru?

The Chincha Kingdom, which thrived along Peru's southern coast between 1000 and 1400 CE, was a formidable power before being absorbed by the Inca and Spanish empires. Researchers have long sought to understand the sources of its wealth, and a recent study published in the journal PLoS ONE sheds light on a surprising contributor: seabird guano. Co-author Jacob Bongers, a digital archaeologist at the University of Sydney, emphasized the significance of this resource, stating, "While guano may appear insignificant at first glance, our findings indicate that it played a crucial role in sociopolitical and economic transformations in the Peruvian Andes." The rich fertilizer greatly enhanced maize production, leading to agricultural surpluses that fueled the Chincha Kingdom’s economy, spurred trade, increased wealth, and supported population growth, ultimately strengthening their alliance with the Inca Empire. In the ancient Andean context, fertilizer equated to power. Last November, Bongers published another paper providing evidence that the enigmatic "Band of Holes" located on Mount Sierpe may have served as an ancient marketplace. Aerial photographs from the 1930s unveiled a series of about 5,200 meticulously aligned holes, likely constructed by the Chincha. Various theories regarding the purpose of these structures have emerged, including suggestions of defense, storage, or even water collection for local gardens, but none were strongly substantiated. Through microbotanical sediment analysis and high-resolution aerial drone imagery, Bongers discovered traces of ancient maize pollen and reeds that were likely used in basket-weaving. This evidence points towards the conclusion that the site functioned as a pre-Inca marketplace where local goods were exchanged with itinerant traders, further highlighting the complex economic activities of the Chincha Kingdom.