An agricultural "field system" generally refers to innovative elements of prehistoric and historic agricultural programs. Agriculture is a variably complicated process, and improvements and innovations in the part of a field system used in some civilizations such as the Maya and Tiwanaku are centered on improving access to water, elimination of weeds, facilitating growth and even some temperature control.
Agricultural field systems can include irrigation ditches and canals, raised fields, terracing with raised earth or stone, use of natural fertilizers such as animal dung and mussel shell, rice paddy construction, and intercropping to take advantage of growing seasons are all innovations found in prehistoric field systems.
This glossary entry is a part of the About.com Guide to Ancient Farming and part of the Dictionary of Archaeology.
