Chapter 8

Question 1

Mesoamerica

Answer 1

maize was initially domestication

Question 2

Maize Domestication in 3 regions

Answer 2

• Mesoamerica
• Southwest United States
• Eastern North America

Question 3

Regional Variation

Answer 3

agriculture was prominent, starting as early as 10,000 years ago

Question 4

Mesoamerica

Answer 4

has been studied as the area where maize, squash, and beans (the 3 sisters)

Question 5

Maize

Answer 5

plays a central subsistence and spirirual role in indgenous farming communities throughout all the “Americas”

Question 6

Teosinte

Answer 6

a wild grass that is the wild (undomesticated) ancestor of maize
- produces 2 rows of small triangular-shaped seeds, while maize seeds are several times larger and growing in four or more rows

Question 7

Rachis of teosinte

Answer 7

is brittle to disperse seeds, while the rachis of maize is not brittle (it’s tougher)

Question 8

a single center of domestication of maize

Answer 8

evidence that teosinte became maize formed in the highlands of Mexico

Question 9

Highlands of Mexico

Answer 9

excavation of dry caves revealed well-preserved plant remains

Question 10

Plant remains included

Answer 10

maize, squash, and beans that likely were domesticated by groups of mobile hunter-gatherers

Question 11

Radiocarbon dating

Answer 11

the identifiable plants remains were too small, but other materials such as wood charcoal were used to determine the age of the remains

Question 12

Accelerator Mass Spectromertry (AMS)

Answer 12

radiocarbon dating recently developed is now used to date even the smallest of plant remains

Question 13

Curcubita pepo

Answer 13

which is the ancestor of squash we eat today (pumpkin, zucchini, and acorn, marrow and spaghetti squash)

Question 14

10,000-8,300 years ago

Answer 14

earliest domestication squash

Question 15

select squash

Answer 15

Thickness of rind and change in color from green to orange

Question 16

Earliest maize was found at the Guila Naquitz in Oaxaca, Mexico

Answer 16

dated 62,50 years ago

Question 17

Though rachis

Answer 17

one cob had 2 rows of kernels and one had 4 rows

Question 18

selection of gradual increase

Answer 18

Size of the cob and the number of kernels over time

Question 19

Beans

Answer 19

found in Mesoamerica dated to 2,500 years ago, but they were likely domestication erlier (possibly at rhw smae time as maize)

Question 20

Chili peppers

Answer 20

were domesticated in the region as well, but actual dates have not yet been established

Question 21

Turkeys

Answer 21

were the only animals domesticated in Mesoamerica, but actual dates of domestication are still unknown

Question 22

Maize and squash

Answer 22

agriculture spread to the southwestern region of the United States around 3,000 years ago
- agriculture varied across the region (some groups increased sedentism, others remained hunter-gatherers)

Question 23

Cerro Juanaquena

Answer 23

site in northwest Chihuahua near the New Mexico boreder that has extensive terrace walls and 100 rock rings (terraces may have been used to provide flat surface for houses, rock rign function is unknown)

Question 24

4 maize kernels

Answer 24

found date to 3,70 years ago and 600 grinding slabs found, indicating grinding seeds or grains was important

Question 25

Optimal Forging Theory

Answer 25

humans acts on basis of rational self-intrerst to maximize efficiency in collecting and processing resources

Question 26

Jornada Mogollon

Answer 26

region is drier and riskier for maize agriculture, but has natural plants and bushes that provide adequate nutrients

Question 27

Cerro Juanaquena

Answer 27

receives more rainfall, is better for growing maize, and has fewer nutritious local wild plants

Question 28

Las Capas

Answer 28

Early site near Tucson,AZ that has terrace walls and a sequence of canals sating to between 3,250-2,500 years ago that carried water at least 2 kilometers (1.25 miles) from the Santa Cruz River to irrigated fields

Question 29

White Dog Cave

Answer 29

(named for mummified dog burials at site) revealed a net made of fiber strings, woven baskets, human burials, sandals made of yucca fiber, cradles for infants, etc.

Question 30

Pottery

Answer 30

widespread in the Southwest around 1,800 years ago

Question 31

Overlaping

Answer 31

of pottery and domestication beans

Question 32

Typical sites

Answer 32

this time included pit houses that were square or rectangular and were excavated 1 to 2 meters below the surface with a superstructure of wooden beams, brush, and soil
- 2-35 houses

Question 33

Turkey feathers

Answer 33

• were used for texture
• were the first animal to be domesticated for consumption in the region
• Isotopic analysis of turkey bones fed on maize demonstrating a strong connection between domesticated crops and animals

Question 34

Maize

Answer 34

first domesticated in Eastern North America between 3,200-1,700 years ago and is associated with the Adena and Hopewell traditions

Question 35

Adena tradition

Answer 35

a period of intensive mound building in the Ohio River Valley associated with the Early Woodland culture 3,200-2,000 years ago
- earliest ceramics found in the region

Question 36

Hopewell tradition

Answer 36

period of intensive mound building on the Ohio River Valley that correspond to the middle woodland culture 2,000-1,700 years ago

Question 37

Both Adena and Hopewell traditions

Answer 37

is evidence of elaborate burial practices including the construction of mound and extensive trade network

Question 38

Hopewell mounds

Answer 38

revealed that multiple humans remains were placed in structures built of bent poles that were covered by the dirt mounds

Question 39

Hopewell material culture

Answer 39

included impressive art objects made of copper, mica and polished stone
some objects were traded over long distances and found in burials

Question 40

Extensive trade network

Answer 40

the Hopewell tradition and construction of massive earthworks came to an end about 1,700 years ago

Question 41

Hopewell tradition

Answer 41

lived in concentrated settlements or dispersed across the landscape in small farmsteads

Question 42

2 Hopewell houses

Answer 42

were identified in Newark Earthworks on Ohio, but little additional evidence has been found to determine Hopewell settlement patterns in the region

Question 43

Number of large settled villages

Answer 43

maize was found as far north as Ontario

Question 44

Maize

Answer 44

didn’t play a major role in the diet until 1,000 years ago in this region, which means it took 700 years for maize to become an essential food source