Ancient Provisions Unearthed in Acarí
Archaeologists have recovered two 500-year-old freeze-dried potatoes from a storage room at the Tambo Viejo site in Peru. The find, published in the Journal of Field Archaeology on May 1, offers rare, physical proof of the Inca Empire’s food distribution network. It confirms that the empire directed one of its most important food sources hundreds of miles from the Andes, down to the Pacific Ocean.
Mastery of Andean Climates
The product, known as chuño, relied on the extreme temperature swings of the Andes. Lidio Valdez, an adjunct professor in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology at the University of Calgary, explains that the process required exposing potatoes to freezing nighttime temperatures and intense daytime sun. This cycle was repeated until the moisture content was nearly gone.
Raw potatoes are roughly 80% water and typically rot within a week in warm, low-elevation environments. By removing that moisture, the Inca created a product that could be stored for decades. It was a logistical necessity, allowing food to be moved via llama caravans across the Inca road network.
A Clay Vessel’s Hidden Cargo
The discovery occurred during the 2024 field season at Tambo Viejo, an Inca provincial center in the Acarí Valley. Researchers found the remains inside a clay vessel partially buried in the dirt floor of a storage room, tucked alongside a pottery fragment and a broken spindle whorl used for spinning fibers, such as raw wool, into yarn or thread.
“Almost at the base of the vessel, the two samples of freeze-dried potatoes were found,” Valdez said. “They showed me without knowing what they were, and right away I said: chuño!”
Aridity and Preservation
The survival of these organic remains is due to the arid conditions of Peru’s south coast. This environment has preserved other fragile artifacts, including naturally mummified guinea pigs, which were also documented during Valdez’s research at the site.
The Logistics of Empire
The presence of chuño in the Acarí Valley provides concrete evidence of the empire’s administrative reach. It highlights the empire’s ability to manage a supply chain spanning hundreds of miles from the Andes to the Pacific Ocean.
Valdez notes that the Inca employed similar techniques for meat, producing charki—the source of the English word “jerky.” This discovery offers a window into how the Inca managed food security, a challenge that persists in modern society. As excavations continue along the Peruvian coast, further evidence of these ancient supply lines is expected to emerge.