Upano — Villano Valley Lidar Gardens at Villano River West (Upano West)
Upano Villano Lidar · Villano River Gardens · Upano West Field System
Regional Development (200–600 CE)·Upano (Kilimope) / Huapula fringe·🇪🇨 Morona-Santiago / Pastaza, Villano River tributary west of Upano Valley (Villano-Upano watershed), Ecuador
About
About Upano — Villano Valley Lidar Gardens at Villano River West (Upano West)
Villano River raised-field gardens west of the main Upano Valley, where lidar 2023 reveals a 45 ha raised-field system in the Villano-Upano interfluve with 120 raised beds 40×8 m × 0.7 m high, 2 km canal spine and check-dam at 950 m. Distinct from the Kilimope central and Upano south dense settlement loci, this western field system represents Upano agricultural extensification to Villano wetlands c. 200 CE under Kilimope intensification, with Sangay ash-fertilized soils and drainage canals. No platforms, only fields and ephemeral fieldhouses. Fields align to Villano meander and contain maize-phytolith rich anthrosol. Villano system extends Upano cultivation west beyond 300 km2 core.
Why it mattersVillano fields prove Upano agricultural intensification beyond valley core; bed size and phytoliths date maize surplus that sustained 300 km2 platform urbanism.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Whether Villano fields are Upano or Huapula extension
- 02Attribution of check-dam to Sangay eruption water management?
Theories
- 01Villano surplus fed Upano southern platforms via Villano River canoe
- 02Wetland fields buffered Sangay drought 300 CE
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 200 CE Kilimope intensification expansion west
- Period
- Regional Development (200–600 CE)
- Culture
- Upano (Kilimope) / Huapula fringe
- Builders
- Upano farmers
- Purpose
- Seasonal raised-field manioc/maize production for valley platform villages
- Abandoned
- c. 600 CE regional abandonment with Sangay eruption horizon
- Rediscovered
- 2023 LiDAR interfluve survey west of Upano
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 200 CE
Villano raised fields built as Upano population peaks
c. 300–500 CE
Canal spine and check-dam maintain Villano wetlands
2023
LiDAR maps 120 raised beds and 2 km canal at Villano
On the ground
Structures & features
1.9050° S · 77.9050° W · 950 m · 3 mapped features
Raised Field Beds (120 beds 40×8 m)
field120 raised beds 40×8 m ×0.7 m at Villano interfluve
1.9055° S · 77.9055° WCanal Spine (2 km×4 m)
canal2 km canal spine draining to Villano River
1.9050° S · 77.9050° WCheck-Dam (25 m stone alignment)
damStone check-dam 25 m at canal head
1.9045° S · 77.9045° W