Nanchoc District

The Nanchoc District in Peru is home to archaeological findings of the earliest known irrigation canals in the Americas. Situated in a fertile valley near the Nanchoc River, these canals date back to at least 3400 BCE with potential origins as far back as 4700 BCE. The ancient inhabitants of Nanchoc utilized these canals to sustain the agriculture of vital crops including peanuts, squash, manioc, and chenopods. These findings provide critical insights into early agricultural practices and water management in the Neolithic period, highlighting the ingenuity of early societies in adapting to their environment. The discovery of these canals underscores the significance of Nanchoc as an important archaeological site in understanding the development of early agriculture in the Americas.