The ancient water channel system is still operational today, transporting 18 to 20 liters of water per second, supporting 900 farming households growing fruits and crops in the Nazca Desert.
The magnificent spiral pits in the Peruvian desert are actually part of a network of irrigation tunnels, helping local residents access groundwater and survive in arid weather conditions.
According to Science Alert, the Nazca Desert in southern Peru is home to numerous spiral pits dug deep into the ground, known as puquios. These unique structures cannot be dated using carbon isotope analysis. The Nazca people also left no evidence regarding when or why they were built.
Strange spiral pits in the desert of Peru. (Photo: Pikselstock).
Rosa Lasaponara from the Institute of Environmental Analysis Methods in Italy used satellite imagery to map the distribution of puquios while investigating their connection to nearby settlements. The results show that the spiral pits are part of an irrigation tunnel network in the Nazca Desert, enabling residents to access groundwater. Lasaponara plans to publish her findings later this year in a paper titled “The Ancient Nazca World: A New Perspective from Science and Archaeology.”
“The puquios system allows for the extraction of an endless water source throughout the year, contributing to the intensification of agriculture in the arid valley area. The technology for building and regularly maintaining the spiral pits relies on significant collaboration and effort from the social organizational system,” Lasaponara stated.
The spiral pits function by channeling wind into underground conduits, creating pressure that pushes water from deep storage tanks underground to where it is needed. Constructing a large-scale project like the puquios system requires a comprehensive understanding of the region’s geology, as well as the annual variations in water supply.
“The puquios system is the most ambitious irrigation project in the Nazca region, ensuring a year-round water supply for not only agriculture but also domestic needs,” Lasaponara explained.
