Chapter 8 Flashcards
Mesoamerica
maize was initially domestication
Maize Domestication in 3 regions
- Mesoamerica
- Southwest United States
- Eastern North America
Regional Variation
agriculture was prominent, starting as early as 10,000 years ago
Mesoamerica
has been studied as the area where maize, squash, and beans (the 3 sisters)
Maize
plays a central subsistence and spirirual role in indgenous farming communities throughout all the “Americas”
Teosinte
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
Rachis of teosinte
is brittle to disperse seeds, while the rachis of maize is not brittle (it’s tougher)
a single center of domestication of maize
evidence that teosinte became maize formed in the highlands of Mexico
Highlands of Mexico
excavation of dry caves revealed well-preserved plant remains
Plant remains included
maize, squash, and beans that likely were domesticated by groups of mobile hunter-gatherers
Radiocarbon dating
the identifiable plants remains were too small, but other materials such as wood charcoal were used to determine the age of the remains
Accelerator Mass Spectromertry (AMS)
radiocarbon dating recently developed is now used to date even the smallest of plant remains
Curcubita pepo
which is the ancestor of squash we eat today (pumpkin, zucchini, and acorn, marrow and spaghetti squash)
10,000-8,300 years ago
earliest domestication squash
select squash
Thickness of rind and change in color from green to orange
Earliest maize was found at the Guila Naquitz in Oaxaca, Mexico
dated 62,50 years ago
Though rachis
one cob had 2 rows of kernels and one had 4 rows
selection of gradual increase
Size of the cob and the number of kernels over time
Beans
found in Mesoamerica dated to 2,500 years ago, but they were likely domestication erlier (possibly at rhw smae time as maize)
Chili peppers
were domesticated in the region as well, but actual dates have not yet been established
Turkeys
were the only animals domesticated in Mesoamerica, but actual dates of domestication are still unknown
Maize and squash
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)
Cerro Juanaquena
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)
4 maize kernels
found date to 3,70 years ago and 600 grinding slabs found, indicating grinding seeds or grains was important