Evidence for maize (Zea mays) in the Late Archaic (3000–1800 B.C.) in the Norte Chico region of Peru

For more than 40 y, there has been an active discussion over the presence and economic importance of maize (Zea mays) during the Late Archaic period (3000–1800 B.C.) in ancient Peru. The evidence for Late Archaic maize has been limited, leading to the interpretation that it was present but used prim...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2013-03, Vol.110 (13), p.4945-4949
Main Authors: Haas, Jonathan, Creamer, Winifred, Mesía, Luis Huamán, Goldstein, David, Reinhard, Karl, Rodríguez, Cindy Vergel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Anthropology, Cultural
Archaeology
Corn
Diet
Excavations
Fossils
Grains
History
History, Ancient
Humans
Peru
Phytoliths
Pollen
Radiocarbon dating
Social Sciences
Soil samples
Starches
Stone tools
Zea mays - growth & development
Zea mays - history
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Summary:For more than 40 y, there has been an active discussion over the presence and economic importance of maize (Zea mays) during the Late Archaic period (3000–1800 B.C.) in ancient Peru. The evidence for Late Archaic maize has been limited, leading to the interpretation that it was present but used primarily for ceremonial purposes. Archaeological testing at a number of sites in the Norte Chico region of the north central coast provides a broad range of empirical data on the production, processing, and consumption of maize. New data drawn from coprolites, pollen records, and stone tool residues, combined with 126 radiocarbon dates, demonstrate that maize was widely grown, intensively processed, and constituted a primary component of the diet throughout the period from 3000 to 1800 B.C.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.1219425110