Irrigation and Society in the Peruvian Desert

... it puts the subsistence economy firmly back into the archaeology of ancient complex societies and it revives general debates about the relationship between control of water and development of social inequality and political power... This volume is specifically written for the specialist in south coast archaeology and it amply fulfills this goal. Moreover, the style of writing is so engaging that others may find this topic intriguing. Lexington [Books] and the authors are to be thanked for making available these fascinating data. Journal Of Latin American Anthropology This worthy and meticulous study of a precolumbian irrigation system on the desert south coast of Peru is most especially notable for two reasons that transcend its particular geo-cultural focus. First, the book should receive widespread praise for its focus on "irrigation and society." It is healthy for the profession to be reminded of the fundamental fact that 'human populations require food' and that 'agriculture requires a detailed knowledge of the natural environment.' Second, the equitable collaboration of a U.S. academic archaeologist with a local intellectual sets a high ethical standard for the conduct of research and career management that should be emulated. -- Helaine Silverman, Department of Anthropology, University of Illinois