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CERRO MAMORCO
In August 1983, we partially excavated three adjacent qollqa in the east-facing arm of the V-shaped group on Cerro Mamorco. They were selected because they were well preserved and appeared to have been burned, thus increasing the probability of recovering charred macrobotanical remains.
Qollqa A and B were similar. Qollqa A had internal measurements of about 7.2 x 2.8 m and Qollqa B was 7.2 x 2.7 m; we excavated approximately half of each structure. Both qollqa had subfloor canals with the sides lined by stone slabs and the bottom formed by bedrock. The sides were not perfectly parallel so that the width varied. The widest canal, in Qollqa A, was 62 cm at its upper end and 72 cm at its lower end; all the other canals were about 50 cm. The canal bottoms were about 30 cm below the floor at the upslope end and about 50 cm below the floor at the downslope end. The slope of the canal followed the natural slope of the bedrock. All the canals appeared to have opened through the walls at both ends, although only one of these openings was completely preserved.
If the canals were laid out symmetrically, each qollqa would have had four canals rather than the three found in the Cerro Cacañan qollqa. The extra canal probably does not indicate functional differences. Rather, it seems to correlate with the larger building size at Cerro Mamorco because the spacing of canals is about the same in both cases.
Qollqa C was smaller than the others, with internal measurements of 5.0 x 2.5 m; we excavated about a third of it. Although we found only minor evidence of burning in Qollqa A and B, Qollqa C was well burned. There were many fragments of burned plaster, some still clinging to the interior faces of the walls. Surprisingly, there were pieces of cane-marked plaster, which we would normally consider as evidence of a finished ceiling. Also surprising was the absence of any subfloor canal. Although the excavation in Qollqa C was smaller than those in Qollqa A and B, we would have found at least one canal if similar canal spacing was used.
No artifacts were recovered from Qollqa A and B, and the only possible artifact from Qollqa C was a piece of lime (cal). Our workmen say that, in addition to its use in coca chewing, lime is commonly used in agriculture and storage. It is sprayed on potato plants to prevent some diseases (plague) and is sometimes sprinkled among stored potatoes to protect them from insects and fungal infections.
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