The spread of maize in the ancient Southwest
Mike R
An international group of anthropologists, using recent genetic,
paleoecological and historical linguistic discoveries have stated, in
the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that maize was
passed from group to group of Southwestern hunter-gatherers. They
integrated this new crop into their subsistence strategy. Corn from 5
sites in Arizona and New Mexico now predates 2000 BCE. And no
artifacts or any other features point to in-migrating Mexicans having
introduced this. But there is continuity of local traditions with
independent invention of low fired ceramics and irrigation earlier
than any known south of the border. There was a movement of 7000 BCE
and later north to south of Proto-Uto-Aztecan hunter gatherers. But it
does not appear that these language speakers re-appeared in the north
introducing maize to the Southwest.
Washington University News has the report here;
http://news-info.wustl.edu/news/page/normal/15214.html
Mike Ruggeri
Mike Ruggeri's Moundbuilders/Ancient Southwest News and Links
http://tinyurl.com/b5mgtv