Corn In The American Southwest

The earliest evidence of Mesoamerican interaction with the Northern American traditions is the emergence of the cultivation of maize in the American Southwest. While there are differencing opinions on the specific location of this introduction, the roots of the maize tradition are found in the deep in the heart of the southern Mesoamerican region of the North American continent. Contemporary studies of the pollen records of the early form of the what we call corn today, Zea Mays, along with clearing of the forest for agricultural use gives indication that pre-Columbian cultivation of domesticate maize appears in the archaeological record of highlands of Mexico close to 6000 BP, and a fully domesticated form of maize appears in the record around 5400 BP. …show more content…
It is this agricultural tradition spread that affects the way of life further north in the pre-Columbian peoples that populates the American Southwest and eventually the Southeastern complexes, such as the Mississippians. Competing hypothesis over the arrival of corn to the American Southwest have been debated. One such hypothesis is the migration of Mesoamerican peoples into the area. DNA studies within the last few years have shown that the possibilities of this migration are very low though not completely discounted. (Merrill) This low probability leaves the theory that there is a defusing of the maize cultivation culture northwards. While at the earliest dates of Mesoamerican maize cultivation is found to be in 7800 cal BP, this diffusion took thousands of years to reach not only its ultimate peak in Mesoamerica, but to make an appearance in the archaeological record of northern portions of the North American Continent. (Merril) As of today, the study of the maize cultivation is like all other archaeological research, evolving. Studies into sites like