Natural and cultural diversity of the Biruli archaeological site (Viru, La Libertad, Peru): Quebrada Biruli and “the other band” of the Huacapongo river

Abstract

We  present  for  the  first  time  the  Biruli  archaeological  site  (Caray  farmhouse,  Huacapongo populated center, Virú district and province, La Libertad region, Peru) and the preliminary results of research on its natural and cultural diversity. The new archaeological site is located in the lower part  of  the  ravine  of  the  same  name  [coordinates  UTM-Datum  WGS-84  763067  E;  9079115N;  775  masl (centroid)] on a terrace of ca. 600 meters long, it features well-crafted edged stone architecture, including  dwelling  places,  funerary  structures  (“chullpas”),  terraces,  among  other  architectural  features,  as  well  as  an  irrigation  canal.  Based  on  the  characteristics  of  the  architecture  and  the  ceramic fragments on the surface, it corresponds to the Early Intermediate Period. The flora has 114  species,  distributed  in  104  genera  and  44  families  that  include  27  cultivated  species  and  four  endemic species [Haageocereus pseudoversicolor (Cactaceae) Endangered (EN), Heliotropium ferreyrae(Boraginaceae) and Neoraimondia arequipensis subsp. gigantea (Cactaceae) Near Threatened (NT), and the  Solanaceae  Nicotiana  paniculata  como  Least  Concern  (LC)].  The  three  registered  cacti  species  are found in Appendix II of CITES. The fauna was represented by 48 species, 45 genera and 28 families  belonging  to  the  classes  Reptilia  (7  sps.,  5  genera,  5  families),  Aves  (40  sps.,  39  genera,  22 families) and Mammalia (1 sp., 1 genus, 1 family). Noteworthy is the presence of two endemic species Microlophus koepckeorum (Reptilia: Tropiduridae) and Piezorhina cinerea, (Aves: Thraupidae). All species are in the category of Least Concern (LC). As in other ancient civilizations, its members made a gradual selection of animals and plants with which they satisfied their food and health needs transmitted for generations through traditional knowledge.