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Maize may have fueled ancient Andean civilization [ update of sorts ]
Science News ^ | Bruce Bower

Posted on 07/10/2009 5:32:03 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

Prehistoric communities in one part of Peru's Andes Mountains may have gone from maize to amazingly complex. Bioarchaeologist Brian Finucane's analyses of human skeletons excavated in this region indicate that people living there 2,800 years ago regularly ate maize. This is the earliest evidence for maize as a staple food in the rugged terrain of highland Peru, he says. Maize agriculture stimulated ancient population growth in the Andes and allowed a complex society, the Wari, to develop, Finucane contends in the August Current Anthropology. Wari society included a central government and other elements of modern states. It lasted from around 1,300 to 950 years ago and predated other Andes civilizations, including the Inca.

(Excerpt) Read more at sciencenews.org ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: agriculture; animalhusbandry; corn; dietandcuisine; godsgravesglyphs; huntergatherers; icallitcorn; maize; wari
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To: null and void; SunkenCiv
*GROAN*

Not to worry, I'm done. I surrender to SunkenCiv

21 posted on 07/10/2009 9:18:17 AM PDT by Condor51 (The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits)
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To: SunkenCiv

a-MAIZE-ing!


22 posted on 07/10/2009 9:22:52 AM PDT by OB1kNOb (It is impossible to convince someone of facts or truth if they don't want to believe it.)
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To: OB1kNOb

Ears to you for daring to make that one.


23 posted on 07/10/2009 9:35:14 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: null and void

I kernal ly imagine why you’d want me to stop.


24 posted on 07/10/2009 9:36:14 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: wildbill

If you wanna hang out you’ve got to take her out.


25 posted on 07/10/2009 9:36:58 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: Sherman Logan

http://www.sacredearth.com/ethnobotany/plantprofiles/corn.php

“...so far the oldest archaeological evidence for domesticated corn comes from Guilá Naquitz Cave near Mitla in the Valley of Oaxaca, Mexico, which has been dated to approximately 6250 years ago.”


26 posted on 07/10/2009 9:41:47 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/__Since Jan 3, 2004__Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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To: SunkenCiv

I can give you an Inca-ling...


27 posted on 07/10/2009 10:13:48 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 171 of our national holiday from reality.)
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To: DManA
Kind of a mystery since the ancestral plant was virtually inedible.

The definition of "virtually inedible" gets pretty flexible when you are hungry enough.

For one example, look at the current cuisine of North Korea...

28 posted on 07/10/2009 10:17:45 AM PDT by null and void (We are now in day 171 of our national holiday from reality.)
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