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First Direct AMS Dates on Early Maize From Tehuacán, Mexico

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Austin Long,
B F Benz,
D J Donahue,
A J T Jull and
L J Toolin
Austin Long
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
B F Benz
Affiliation:
Laboratorio Natural las Joyas de la Sierra de Manantlan, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco CP 44100, Mexico
D J Donahue
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, University of Arizona
A J T Jull
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
L J Toolin
Affiliation:
Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721
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Abstract

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The Tehuacán region in Central Mexico is thought to be the locale of origin of Zea mays, or maize, a cultivated plant pivotal in the development of agriculture in the Americas (MacNeish, 1981, 1985). The age of the earliest maize, and its rate of dispersal are thus important components of cultural development in the New World. We have secured permission from the Federal Government of Mexico to date critical specimens from Tehuacán, which represent what are probably some of the earliest known stages of maize evolution. Twelve Zea mays samples have been dated, six from Cueva San Marcos and six from Cueva Coxcatlán. These were selected as having the best stratigraphic control and correlation with previously dated charcoal samples, and to represent the most ancient maize. Corn from Cueva San Marcos is oldest: four of the six specimens from this cave were within statistics of 4700 BP (uncalibrated). The oldest known domesticated corn is thus no older than 3600 cal BC (dendro-calibrated in calendric years).

Information

Type
IV. Applications
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 31 , Issue 3: June 20-25, 1988 Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia , 1989, pp. 1035 - 1040
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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