snazzynewshoes t1_jd50rej wrote on March 21, 2023 at 9:45 PM

Reply to comment by NoIce1551 in TIL that the Incans genetically modified and hybridized crops such as potatoes at sites like the Moray Terrace. by A_Generic_White_Guy

The Inca were relatively late to the party. There were many civilizations in the Andes before them. A Prehistory of South America by Moore is a good over-view, if you are into that kinda stuff.

NoIce1551 t1_jd56obu wrote on March 21, 2023 at 10:25 PM

yes, good point

snazzynewshoes t1_jd5k8uc wrote on March 21, 2023 at 11:59 PM

Look at a map of the South American West cost. Notice all the rivers that run from the Andes to the ocean. The people on the ocean, fished. A bit farther up, folks grew cotton for the nets and other crops(some great feats of water engineering). When ya get into elevation, that's where ya get ALL those potato varieties. And the inhabitants knew which varieties grew in which micro-climate.

Wiki says potatoes were grown as early as 8K BCE. The inca didn't really flex their muscles until the 1400ish.