Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur
A number of scholars in the social and natural sciences have debated the origin and antiquity of maize in northwestern South America. In this article we directly address some of the evidence and theories presented regarding this issue and present a new method for tracing the use of maize using opal...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | Spanish |
| Published: |
Institut Français d'Études Andines
2001-03-01
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| Series: | Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.openedition.org/bifea/7337 |
| _version_ | 1797307986910117888 |
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| author | John E. Staller Robert G. Thompson |
| author_facet | John E. Staller Robert G. Thompson |
| author_sort | John E. Staller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A number of scholars in the social and natural sciences have debated the origin and antiquity of maize in northwestern South America. In this article we directly address some of the evidence and theories presented regarding this issue and present a new method for tracing the use of maize using opal phytolith assemblages from food residues in utilized ceramics. Archaeological excavations of a ceremonial platform mound at the Valdivia site at La Emerenciana have uncovered numerous archaeological features consisting primarily of ritual offerings. Carbon residues from the interior surfaces of excavated pottery contained in such features were analyzed for the presence of opal phytoliths. Three of the ten samples analyzed contain phytolith assemblages representative of maize cob chaff. The samples are from secure archaeological contexts in a layer radiocarbon dated to between 2203 and 1679 B.C. Carbon residues from two of the ten samples were AMS dated to more precisely establish their age. Complementary data recovered by paper chromatography of amino acids and carbon isotope analysis are incorporated into this study as were phytoliths removed from two of the four Valdivia burials from the La Emerenciana excavations. Contextual and theoretical issues as well as carbon isotope data from Valdivia skeletons from earlier contexts and from other regions of the coast are also reviewed regarding their significance to the initial spread of maize in northwestern South America. Our results indicate that maize was introduced into coastal Ecuador during the final portion of the Valdivia culture sequence and that it may have been integrated into the subsistence economy as a ritual rather than an economic plant. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:05:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0f89052aea8549e0b42da01f74068214 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0303-7495 2076-5827 |
| language | Spanish |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T01:05:08Z |
| publishDate | 2001-03-01 |
| publisher | Institut Français d'Études Andines |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines |
| spelling | doaj.art-0f89052aea8549e0b42da01f740682142024-02-14T16:33:23ZspaInstitut Français d'Études AndinesBulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines0303-74952076-58272001-03-013012315610.4000/bifea.7337Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del SurJohn E. StallerRobert G. ThompsonA number of scholars in the social and natural sciences have debated the origin and antiquity of maize in northwestern South America. In this article we directly address some of the evidence and theories presented regarding this issue and present a new method for tracing the use of maize using opal phytolith assemblages from food residues in utilized ceramics. Archaeological excavations of a ceremonial platform mound at the Valdivia site at La Emerenciana have uncovered numerous archaeological features consisting primarily of ritual offerings. Carbon residues from the interior surfaces of excavated pottery contained in such features were analyzed for the presence of opal phytoliths. Three of the ten samples analyzed contain phytolith assemblages representative of maize cob chaff. The samples are from secure archaeological contexts in a layer radiocarbon dated to between 2203 and 1679 B.C. Carbon residues from two of the ten samples were AMS dated to more precisely establish their age. Complementary data recovered by paper chromatography of amino acids and carbon isotope analysis are incorporated into this study as were phytoliths removed from two of the four Valdivia burials from the La Emerenciana excavations. Contextual and theoretical issues as well as carbon isotope data from Valdivia skeletons from earlier contexts and from other regions of the coast are also reviewed regarding their significance to the initial spread of maize in northwestern South America. Our results indicate that maize was introduced into coastal Ecuador during the final portion of the Valdivia culture sequence and that it may have been integrated into the subsistence economy as a ritual rather than an economic plant.https://journals.openedition.org/bifea/7337EcuadorValdiviaNW Andespaleobotanymaize |
| spellingShingle | John E. Staller Robert G. Thompson Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur Bulletin de l'Institut Français d'Études Andines Ecuador Valdivia NW Andes paleobotany maize |
| title | Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur |
| title_full | Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur |
| title_fullStr | Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur |
| title_full_unstemmed | Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur |
| title_short | Reconsiderando la introducción del maíz en el occidente de América del Sur |
| title_sort | reconsiderando la introduccion del maiz en el occidente de america del sur |
| topic | Ecuador Valdivia NW Andes paleobotany maize |
| url | https://journals.openedition.org/bifea/7337 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnestaller reconsiderandolaintroducciondelmaizeneloccidentedeamericadelsur AT robertgthompson reconsiderandolaintroducciondelmaizeneloccidentedeamericadelsur |