Earth As We Know It
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earthasweknowit.bsky.social
Earth As We Know It
@earthasweknowit.bsky.social
History, Archeology, Megafauna, Evolution, Wildlife. Currently working on a photojournalism project on the ecology & cultures of South America.

https://www.earthasweknowit.com
Not the real Putin. Was a body double.
August 16, 2025 at 3:10 PM
July 31, 2025 at 7:47 PM
They also helped regulate watering, draining excess moisture during heavy rains, while storing water to extend the growing season during drier periods.

The canals provided habitat for animals such as fish, frogs, and birds, which both helped control pests while providing another source of protein.
July 1, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The Waru Waru were created for a number of agricultural purposes. Crops like potato and quinoa would be planted on the raised beds between the canals.

In doing so, they helped prevent frost damage by storing thermal energy during the day, keeping temperatures warmer through the night.

July 1, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The earliest of these are believed to date back to around 1000 BCE, although most are commonly attributed to the Pukara (500 BCE - 200 CE) and Tiwanaku (200-1000 CE) cultures. Similar earthworks can also be seen just north of main Tiwanaku archeological site.

July 1, 2025 at 10:12 PM
Some more of my pics from Inti Raymi 2025 are at this link (and while you’re at it, give my reddit community there a follow. I’m trying to hit 2000 followers)

www.reddit.com/r/EarthAsWeK...
June 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
The hundreds of performers from the event represent both the Inca elite and the millions of subjects from across their massive empire, Tahuantinsuyo. People from each region were required to maintain their own distinct style of clothing.
June 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
During the ritual they would make offerings to their deities in hopes of bountiful harvests & success in their military campaigns through the following year. These included primarily Inti (the Sun God), Pachamama (Mother Earth), and other supernatural beings.
June 28, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Yeah, lots of archeological sites have repair/restoration work to make them more attractive for tourism. IMO it’s understandable that poor countries would try to increase tourism revenue for its population. I just wish all the new construction was better marked, to not confuse people.
June 19, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Not all the modern stonework here is bad quality either btw.

This gate & the back of these niches are modern, with vertical & horizontal lines etched on them.

Note how those gate stones look newer, & don’t have lichen yet (which grows super slow).

#archeology #archaeology #peru #inca #history
June 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Then today, alt-history conspiracists look at Machu Picchu’s cruder upper wall construction, and incorrectly claim that the modern reconstruction is actually Inca era construction, and that the lower construction is from some prior mythical lost advanced civilization. 😆

#archeology #archaeology
June 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Further reconstruction continued into the 2000s, when they started chiseling the year and/or reference numbers & letters onto the modern stonework (look closely on the 3rd image for the lettering).
June 19, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Longer term may even be deflationary if consumers has less spending power
June 11, 2025 at 6:44 PM
I’ve seen videos of this approach a few times where they hammer in a row of wedges
June 4, 2025 at 12:55 AM
Upon closer inspection, you can see this is simply a calcite or quartz vein. Crystals can still be seen along the crack.

Those minerals mostly dissolved, leaving behind the granite “cut”.

This is a good reminder as to why it’s a good idea to maintain some skepticism when analyzing this stuff.
June 3, 2025 at 1:13 AM
However, when viewing the cut from above, it becomes obvious that the cut couldn’t have been made with a circular saw or a drag saw, because the cut is jagged/wobbly, not straight.
June 3, 2025 at 1:13 AM
Before seeing this for myself, I had wondered if they may have used some kind of bronze stone saw (with sand and water for extra abrasion), such as was used by the ancient Romans and Egyptians.
June 3, 2025 at 1:13 AM