500-Year-Old Potatoes Found Intact In Peru
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Alignment
Archeologists in South America have discovered two remarkably intact 500-year-old potatoes. The rare find was revealed in a study published in the Journal of Field Archaeology on May 1, 2026. It shows how the Inca Empire was able to provide food to communities far from where crops were grown.
Dr. Lidio Valdez and his team made the discovery in 2024 while excavating Tambo Viejo, an ancient Inca site in southern Peru. The archeologists were clearing a small storage room when they uncovered a broken clay pot buried beneath the dirt floor. Inside were two freeze-dried potatoes dating back to the late 15th or early 16th century.
Potatoes were a staple food for Andean communities for thousands of years. But they contain about 80 percent water. This made them heavy to carry and quick to rot, especially in warm areas. To solve this, farmers took advantage of the extreme climate in the Andes mountains.
During winter nights, they left harvested potatoes outside on the ground to freeze. During the day, the warmth of the sun thawed them. Workers then trampled the softened potatoes to squeeze out water. This cycle was repeated over several days to remove most of the water. The resulting lightweight potatoes were easy to transport and could be stored for years without rotting.
Known as chuño, these preserved potatoes became an important food source for the Inca Empire. At its height, the empire stretched from the cold Andes Mountains to the hot deserts along the Pacific coast. The lightweight food helped feed soldiers, workers, and communities during times of drought and food shortages.
In their study, the researchers note that chuño could only be made at high altitudes. Because Tambo Viejo is on the coast, the team believes the potatoes were brought there from the Andes, likely by llama caravans.
For Dr. Valdez, the potatoes offer more than just a glimpse into history. They provide a lesson in food security and reducing waste.
"We still have so much to learn from the people of the past," he said. "Food security is a main concern, even in our times; yet we waste food, perhaps more than at any time in human history."
Resources: ZMEscience.com, Phys.com, Livescience.com
Get the Workbook for this article!
Workbook contains: Article, Reading Comprehension, Critical Thinking Questions, Vocabulary in Context (+ answers), Multiple Choice Quiz (+ answers), Parts of Speech Quiz (+ answers), Vocabulary Game (+ answers)Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
17 Comments
ilovehenrydsaf13 dayshow did they survive without rotting?- smartreader3 dayscool
- mivozecajira4 daysI suprised it did not get rotten of over all these years
thedeltarune4 dayswowwww
ilovehamilton4 daysThat's insaneeeee- canydatysoza4 dayscrazyy
- gozajypujize5 daysbro that's crazy potato is 500 year wow so cool is usen the ia so cool
- turiganovygu5 daysbro that is crazy.
sumolerecomo5 daysIkr
- gojisisazywu6 days500 years???? how is it still standing after all these years
lucap10016 dayspotatoes are the best!!!!!!!!
