Extinct Mid-Holocene Maize from the Monte Castelo Shell Mound, Rondônia, Brazil.

Summary

In the Brazilian Amazon, mid-Holocene maize (Zea mays) grains have been found in archaeological deposits of the Monte Castelo shell mound. The morphological differences are pronounced between these and grains from both modern maize races of the Amazon and those found beginning around 1,500 years ago at other sites in the region. Our research explores the history, from 3900 BP, and use of this extinct maize. The presence of cultivars rich in carbohydrates in the Amazon has traditionally been interpreted in light of their potential caloric contribution to the diet and the economic implications of plant cultivation. Alternatively, we start from plant morphology and the cultural contexts, including burials, where these grains were deposited during mid-Holocene occupations. The shell mound, which dates from the early to late Holocene, contains a variety of edible plants and diverse faunal resources, of which maize is one element.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage

Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 17351