Macro and microscopic identification of Zea mays grains (Poaceae) in early prehispanic contexts of Quebrada de Los Corrales (Tucumán, Argentina)

In this work we report the discovery of charred macrorrests of Zea mays grains from early contexts (ca. 3500 years BP) of the archaeological site Taller Puesto Viejo 1, in Quebrada de Los Corrales (Tucumán, Northwest Argentina). For the identification, a combined analysis of both macroscopic diagnos...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Oliszewski, Nurit, Molar, Rocío, Arreguez, Guillermo Anibal, Carrizo, Julieta Ines del Valle, Martínez Burzaco, Gonzalo Jorge
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:español
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/146014
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/146014
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:ARCHAEOBOTANICAL MACRORREMAINS
ARCHAEOBOTANICAL MICRORREMAINS
PREHISPANIC CORN
QUEBRADA DE LOS CORRALES
TUCUMÁN
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/6.1
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/6
Descripción
Sumario:In this work we report the discovery of charred macrorrests of Zea mays grains from early contexts (ca. 3500 years BP) of the archaeological site Taller Puesto Viejo 1, in Quebrada de Los Corrales (Tucumán, Northwest Argentina). For the identification, a combined analysis of both macroscopic diagnostic characters (texture, structure and fracturing pattern) and microscopic characters (starch granules and phytoliths) was implemented. This methodology allowed the identification of nine carbonized corn fragments that, at the microscopic level, have numerous starch granules and some phytoliths, diagnostic of the taxon. We evaluate the implications of this finding in its context of mortuary type and in the general context of evidence of early maize in Argentina and Chile.