11639
Author
Fritz, Gayle J.
Author Affiliation
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Department of Anthropology
Title Of Article Chaper
Identification of cultigen amaranth and chenopod from rockshelter sites in northwest Arkansas
Title Of Journal Book
American antiquity: a quarterly review of American archaeology
Volume
49
Issue
3
Pages
558-572
Collation
5 figs.
Reference Bibliography
refs.
ISSN
0002-7316
Language Of Text
English
Language Of Summary
English
Literature Type
Serial
Literature Level
Analytic
Abstract
The cultigen <i>Amaranthus hypochondriacus</i> has been recognized in four samples of desiccated plant remains from Holman Shelter in Madison County, Arkansas. That site, excavated in 1932, yielded the domesticated <i>Chenopodium berlandieri</i> ssp. <i>nuttalliae</i>. Cultigen chenopod has been found in one other Madison County rockshelter. Samples containing the two species are described in detail and placed in general cultural context by combining information from excavation notes with regional archaeological data. Mesoamerican origins would exclude both cultigens from the Eastern Agricultural Complex. Current evidence favors a late prehistoric introduction into the eastern United States, but determination of spatial and temporal ranges will depend upon future recovery and analysis.
Keywords
identification;plants;archaeobotany;chenopods;amaranth; excavation; archaeological sites;USA (Arkansas-- Madison County); prehistoric
pub_id
11639