Products stored Qullqa

qullqas (inca warehouses) guaman poma

the products stored in qullqas varied region region in inca empire depending upon production in local area. @ wanuku pampa in north central peru, major inca administrative , storage area, 50 80 percent of qullqas used store dried potatoes , other root crops. 5 7 percent of qullqas devoted storage of maize, because high altitudes , cool climate limited local production of maize. root crops layered straw , baled storage. maize shelled , stored in large jars.

additional agriculture products stored in qullqas consisted of quinoa, beans, other vegetables, dried meat (ch arki or jerky, , seeds. non-agricultural goods stored included textiles , clothing, wool, cotton, , feathers (used in clothing), tools , weapons , gold , silver vessels , other luxury items. inventories of items stored kept on quipus, knotted strings incas used in lieu of written language.

the scope of inca s passion storage in described spaniard said of qullqas near inca capital of cuzco, (there are) storehouses full of blankets, wool, weapons, metals , clothes -- , of grown , made in realm....and there house in kept more 100,000 dried birds, feathers articles of clothing made...there shields, beams supporting tents, knives, , other tools; sandals , armor people of war in such quantity not possible comprehend.

the economy of inca empire large extent redistributive. inca state seems have financed through direct managerial command of land, labor, , storage systems, rather through market exchange system. under mit system, citizens required contribute labor empire , resultant production of food, textiles, , other goods stored state distributed needed.

agricultural products such maize , quinoa might have had storage life of 1 or 2 years , treated products such freeze-dried potatoes , dried meat might have had storage life of 2-4 years. however, spanish chroniclers said products stored 10 years.