Terraces have deserved extensive research and at present an attempt is being made to reconstruct them for agricultural benefit. Terraces permit cultivating steep slopes of ravines and prevent erosion produced by the rains.

The earth transported to the terraces after the construction of the stone walls and the hydraulic canal which carries water for irrigation from the first terrace to the last is worked with the chaki-taclla or taclla, the traditional indigenous foot plow which is the most appropriate tool for cultivating slopes.

On the coast some narrow terraces which lack water and irrigation canals were used as drying floors to dry some agricultural products such as aji or hot peppers (Capsicum sp.). An example of this are the terraces that are behind the building of Puruchuco in Lima. Others such as Carquin, near Huaura served for drying fish.