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Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Dates Confirm Early Zea Mays in the Mississippi River Valley

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Thomas J. Riley ,
Gregory R. Walz ,
Charles J. Bareis ,
Andrew C. Fortier  and
Kathryn E. Parker
Thomas J. Riley
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, 109 Davenport Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
Gregory R. Walz
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, 109 Davenport Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
Charles J. Bareis
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, 109 Davenport Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
Andrew C. Fortier
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, 109 Davenport Hall, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801
Kathryn E. Parker
Affiliation:
Great Lakes Ecosystems, P.O. Box 156, Indian River, MI 49749
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Abstract

Two accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates obtained from samples of Zea mays from the Holding site, 11MS118, in the American Bottom near East St. Louis, Illinois, establish the presence of maize in the Mississippi Valley between 170 B.C. and A.D. 60. The dates finally establish the occurrence of Middle Woodland maize in Illinois and are the earliest dates thus far for maize east of the Mississippi River. Other reports of early Middle Woodland maize in the Midcontinent region should not be discounted unless AMS dating and other supporting information show the maize to be a contaminant at the site at which it occurs. Recent stable carbon-isotope experiments suggest that the relative contribution of maize to Middle Woodland diets is still an open question.

Resumen

Resumen

Dos fechas de radiocarbono tomados directamente de Zea mays del sitio Holding, 11MS118, en el American Bottom, cerca de East St. Louis, Illinois, establecen la presencia del maíz en la cuenca del Río Misisipi entre 170 B.C. y A.D. 60. Estas fechas finalmente establecen la ocurrencia de maíz en el período Woodland Medio en Illinois y hasta ahora son las fechas más tempranas al este del Río Misisipi. Otros reportes de maíz en el Woodland Medio temprano no deben ser descartados a no ser que sean rechazados por fechamiento de acelerador de espectrometría de masas (AMS) o que se demuestre que el maíz es un contaminante en el sitio investigado. Experimentos recientes con isotopos estables de carbono sugieren que la contribución relativa del maíz a las dietas del Woodland Medio es una pregunta que todavía queda abierta.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 59 , Issue 3 , July 1994 , pp. 490 - 498
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 1994

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