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A late Holocene record of arid events from the Cuzco region, Peru

journal contribution
posted on 2023-06-07, 17:09 authored by Alex Chepstow-Lusty, Mick FrogleyMick Frogley, Brian S Bauer, Mark B Bush, Alfredo Tupayachi Herrera
The small recently infilled lake basin of Marcacocha (1313 S, 7212 W, 3355 m) in the Cuzco region of Peru has a morphology and location that renders it extremely sensitive to environmental change. A record of vegetation, human impact and climatic change during the last 4200 years has been obtained from a highly organic core taken from the centre of the basin. Sustained arid episodes that affected the Peruvian Andes may be detectable using the proxy indicator of sedge (Cyperaceae) pollen abundances. As the lake level was lowered during sustained drier conditions, the local catchment was colonized by Cyperaceae, while during lake floods, they retreated or were submerged and pollen production was correspondingly reduced. Drier episodes during prehistoric times occurred around 900 B.C., 500 B.C., A.D. 100 and A.D. 550, with a longer dry episode occurring from A.D. 900-1800. Evidence from the independently derived Quelccaya ice core record and the archaeological chronology for the Cuzco region appears to support the climatic story derived from the sedge data. Many of these aridity episodes appear to correspond with important cultural changes in the Cuzco region and elsewhere in the Central Andes.

History

Publication status

  • Published

Journal

Journal of Quaternary Science

ISSN

0267-8179

Issue

6

Volume

18

Page range

491-502

Pages

12.0

Department affiliated with

  • Geography Publications

Notes

Joint-authored publication in which the first two authors had equal joint input. Fifth external co-author is: Herrera, A.T.

Full text available

  • No

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2012-02-06

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