New research suggests seabird guano helped transform the Chincha Kingdom into one of the most prosperous societies in ancient Peru. Chemical clues in centuries-old maize show farmers fertilized their ...

UC Merced student Sabrina Nino presents early findings of isotopic analysis of pre-Hispanic Chinchu agricultural practices at a meeting of the American Association of Biological Anthropology. The ...

In 1532, in the city of Cajamarca, Peru, Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro and a group of Europeans took the Inca ruler Atahualpa hostage, setting the stage for the fall of the Inca Empire.

Seabird poop, along with food waste, feathers and carcasses, accumulates as guano, which is prized as a nutrient-rich fertilizer. Richard McManus via Getty Images Before the Inca civilization rose to ...

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their ...

Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. When it comes to the success of ancient civilizations, the first ...

The pre-Inca Chincha Kingdom (circa 1000-1400 CE), along Peru’s southern coast, was one of the most wealthy and influential of its time before falling to the Inca and Spanish empires. Scientists have ...

Thirteen miles off the coast of Peru lies a trio of islands with mountainous piles of guano, nicknamed “white gold.” This seabird poop mixed with other waste is such a powerful nitrogen deposit that ...

Ceremonial digging stick or paddle from coastal Peru showing seabirds and possible maize sprouting from abstracted fish and stepped-terrace motifs, The Met Museum 1979.206.1025. New archaeological ...

Sometimes, the best survival strategy is disguising yourself like something no one wants to eat, much less mess with and dig around in: bird poop. That is the approach taken by newly discovered spider ...

What started as a harmless bird poo prank quickly took an unexpected turn! 😂 Watch how this funny prank backfires in the most surprising way. You won’t believe the reaction at the end.