ABSTRACT
From the archaeological record of agricultural systems used by several pre-Columbian societies of ancient Peru and Bolivia, knowledge of agricultural system configurations permits comparison of actual to theoretically optimum agricultural systems. Similitude methodology provides insight for discovery of the science base used for agricultural intensification by several Andean societies for which extensive archaeological field data exists on their agricultural systems. Clark identified the pivotal role of water in his publication Water in Antiquity which reviewed available archaeological evidence. Archaeology examines the cultural remains of a society and through anthropologic models, attempts to interpret the thinking and societal/political/economic structure underlying the creation of ceremonial and secular architectural remains and iconographic material objects – this abetted by historical reports and surviving literature from ancient sources. When coincidence exists between basic equation predictions and archaeological record observations of agricultural field evolution technology to achieve optimum food production, then insight into the thinking of ancient Andean societies follows.
