[Aztlan] Maize and state society in the Andes

[michael ruggeri]

Listeros,

A skeleton found at an ancient Wari site in the Andes has yielded  
evidence that maize farming started early in the Andes and helped fuel  
early state society. Human skeletons living in the area 2,800 years  
ago regularly ate maize. This stimulated population growth and led to  
a complex society. Did the highland societies of the Andes depend  
primarily on maize or on potatoes and beans. The new studies show  
intensive maize cultivation is the answer for the development of the  
Wari state. Andean expert Dan Sandweiss concurs and he says a warmer,  
wetter climate at the time and the spread of terraced cultivation  
spurred this. Hundreds of skeletons from many sites were studied and  
it shows that maize consumption was primary at all of these sites.

Another earlier study suggests maize was consumed in Andean Argentina  
4000 years ago. More formative area sites will now be studied to  
follow up on this find.

Science News has the story here;
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/45413/description/Maize_may_have_fueled_ancient_Andean_civilization

A tiny URL;
http://tinyurl.com/mt8oc2

Mike Ruggeri

Mike Ruggeri's Ancient Andean World
http://tinyurl.com/2o79jy

Mike Ruggeri's Andean Archaeology News and Links
http://tinyurl.com/d92x3n