Prehistoric Maize from Canyon del Muerto
Anderson E and Blanchard FD. 1942. Prehistoric Maize from Canyon del Muerto. American Journal of Botany. 29(10):832-835
Two hundred twenty-two ears of prehistoric maize from Canon del Muerto, Arizona, were examined in detail. Although nearly 1500 years old, the material is in an excellent state of preservation. The dull colors of the prehistoric maize can be reproduced in modern maize by dry heat, and it is concluded that this cache had probably been parched before being stored. Most of the maize had floury endosperm, though a few ears were flinty. Pericarp was either red, colorless, or mosaic (Prr, Pmo, or p). In cob size, kernel size, kernel shape, etc., this prehistoric maize is unlike modern Pueblo maize and very similar to that now being grown by the Papago and allied tribes. A statistical analysis of differences within and between the color varieties of the prehistoric maize leads to the conclusion that, as a whole, it was essentially homogeneous.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Anderson, Edgar; Blanchard, Fredrick
- Units
- CACH
- Keywords
- Canyon del Muerto Canyon de Chelly National Monument AZ, corn, Plant Studies