The deep knowledge and innovative agricultural techniques of the Inca Empire came to life in the fascinating structures of the Moray Laboratory. Located 3,500 meters above sea level, this ancient research center looks like an amphitheater intertwined with nature, with its circular terraces surrounding each other.
Moraya place where the Incas experimented on hundreds of plant species, imitating different altitudes and climatic conditions. agricultural experiment center stands out as. This unique area takes its place in history as not only a laboratory where agricultural experiments were carried out, but also as one of the most impressive symbols of the scientific and cultural heritage of the Incas.
Terraces Designed to Create Climate Differences
Moray laboratory, Sacred Valley of the Inca EmpireIt is known as a former agricultural research center located in . Located at an altitude of approximately 3500 meters above sea level, this archaeological site consists of terraces and water channels built at different heights. to the city of Cuzco Moray, located approximately 50 kilometers away Maras salt pans It is approximately 7 kilometers away.
Moray is notable for containing the most extraordinary structures built by the Incas. These structures consist of concentric circular terraces that resemble an amphitheatre. These rings, which stand out at first glance, are actually agricultural experiments It is part of a research center used for Moray is called a “laboratory” because it is thought that these terraces were used to test various agricultural products under different temperatures, altitudes and irrigation conditions.
Moray’s unique structure consists of small terraces depending on their location. creating climate differences has the ability. While the temperature is at its maximum on the lowest terraces in the center, the temperature decreases as you go up. Some of these terraces can reach depths of 100 meters, resulting in a temperature difference of up to approximately 5°C between the bottom terrace and the top terrace. Thanks to these temperature changes, different climatic conditions could be created and agricultural experiments could be carried out.
In Moray, ca. 20 different microclimates agricultural experiments were carried out. In these terraces, fertile soil was used within the structures created with support walls and water was supplied through a complex irrigation system. Thanks to this method, experiments could be performed on approximately 250 different plant species. Moray is thought to have been used to increase agricultural productivity, particularly in various regions of the Inca Empire.
Origin and Current Situation of the Name Moray
“Moray” The origin of the word is based on the word “aymoray” in the Inca language (Quechua). This word can have two different meanings in Quechua: “cornfield” or “month of May”. The Moray laboratory was discovered by Shirppe Johnson in 1932. Today, only a part of this ancient agricultural center has been restored, and there are two other small circular buildings that preserve their original form.
Moray remains a fascinating archaeological site that reveals both the agricultural wisdom of the Inca civilization and how scientific research techniques were applied in the past.
The Structure of the Moray Laboratory: Secrets of the Circular Terraces
Moray laboratoryIt has a structure consisting of consecutive circular terraces, and these terraces are divided into 10 different levels (stages). Access to each level is provided by steps placed on the walls. Each of these levels is approximately 2 meters high. The water required for agriculture was supplied from a pool located at the top of the protected area. The water coming from this pool was distributed to the terraces through channels carved into the stone, thus irrigating each level.
Terraces are designed and built in accordance with the natural slope of the land. Terrace walls absorb and store the sun’s heat during the day and slowly release this heat back at night. Thanks to this natural heat management, small microclimate differences occur between terraces. While there is a temperature difference of approximately 0.5°C between terraces at the same level, the temperature difference between terraces at different levels can be up to 5°C.
Agricultural Studies: Experimental Research of the Incas
According to archaeologists, Moray laboratory It was used as an agricultural research center by the Incas. The unique arrangement of the terraces creates temperature differences, allowing for various climatic conditions. Thanks to this structure, approximately twenty different microclimates could be created in Moray and experiments were carried out on various plant species in these climates.
of Moray, Inca Empire It is thought that it is used to calculate the productivity of agricultural products in the land in advance. This area served as a sample laboratory for the Incas, and as a result of the studies carried out here, seeds were selected to be planted in other parts of the empire. In addition, research has been carried out to select plants and obtain the best yield, thus agricultural strategies suitable for different regions have been developed.
Researcher John Earls has determined that some stones were placed on terraces at Moray. It is thought that these stones were used to define the boundaries of shadows during astronomical events such as equinoxes and solstices. According to Earls’ findings, each terrace represents zones that simulate climatic conditions in different ecological zones of the Incas.
Moray Raymi: A Celebration of Earth and Sun
Moray’s circular terraces have been a gathering place not only for agricultural experiments but also for cultural events. In September, about a hundred people from settlements near Moray would gather on these terraces to celebrate a festival called Moray Raymi (Feast of the Sun). During these celebrations, folkloric dances related to land and agriculture were performed and the Incas’ ties with nature were honored.
While Moray Raymi symbolizes the respect of the people of the region for agriculture and nature, it also reveals the devotion to the cultural heritage of the Incas. With these rituals and festivals, Moray became an important center of the Incas’ agricultural knowledge as well as their social and cultural ties.
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