FW: [Aztlan] squash

[Jeff Baker]

A very interesting discussion on squash and its various uses. I've never
seen any discussion on how many calories are derived from squash and the
other cucurbits, but most studies agree that maize supplies 60-80% of
the calories for many modern peasants throughout Latin America. With the
variety of other foods available, I seriously doubt that squash
comprises more than 5% of the caloric intake. But, as Nick notes, it
plays an important dietary role, and an important role in the
agroecosystem.

Dick mentions agave as being used in the highlands of Mexico, where its
use has been well-documented. I don't think we should restrict our
discussion of agave to the highlands. I have seen it growing today in
kitchen gardens in Belize and Quintana Roo, and several Maya sites have
produced agave pollen. Early in my grad career, I wrote a paper on Maya
subsistence. At that point in time (ca. 1991 or 1992), there were more
sites with evidence for agave than for beans. 

This is not to say that agave was more important than beans. Beans
simply do not produce great quantities of pollen, and the processing of
beans greatly reduces the chances of macrobotanical remains being
preserved. But, I found it interesting (and still do), that agave is
ignored in most discussions of Maya culinary habits.

Just another plant to add to the lowland Mesoamerican diet.

Thanks,


Jeff

Jeffrey L. Baker, Ph.D
Archaeologist
EcoPlan Associates, Inc.
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