ABSTRACT
South American pre-Columbian populations greatly modified their landscapes, particularly those areas that were otherwise not well adapted to agriculture. In a few cases, irrigation was the primary concern, but more commonly the goal was to control excess water through drainage systems. In both the highlands and the lowlands, the most typical form of raised field is the elongated raised field, but the internal organization of these complexes can vary considerably. The principal difference among these systems is whether they articulate with rivers, standing water, or periodically flooded spaces.
