Cusichaca River

The Cusichaca River valley in the Cusco Region is one of the most comprehensively studied archaeological areas in Peru, investigated since 1977 by Dr. Ann Kendall and the Cusichaca Trust. The valley contains Inca sites including Patallacta, a complex of 112 stone structures with agricultural terraces irrigated by waters captured from the Cusichaca River. Research identified terrace systems modified over some 11,000 years in response to past climate changes, and the archaeological data has been applied to restore approximately 30 km of canals and 600 ha of terracing to full productivity.