Morphological Variation of Maize Cupules and Access to High Quality Maize in the Prehispanic Malpaso Valley, Zacatecas, Mexico

Prosperity, power, and change: Modeling maize at Postclassic Xaltocan, Mexico

“…Mexico is the home to several indigenous land races of maize (Anderson, 1946;Anderson and Cutler, 1942;Benz, 1986Benz, , 1994aMangelsdorf, 1974;Sánchez González, 1994;Sanders et al, 1979, p. 233;Turkon, 2006;Wellhausen et al, 1952). These maize races exhibit morphological and developmental differences based upon both genetic and ecological factors.…”

“…Row number was counted for those samples containing complete enough cobs, but relying on this attribute as a key variable would have reduced the number of individuals in this study, particularly for maize from the chinampas. Researchers have estimated row number based on cupule angle (Bird, 1994;Goette et al, 1994;Miksicek et al, 1981;Turkon, 2006). But it is possible that preservation, carbonization, and original processing may impact cupule angle, and this may occur differentially between varieties (Goette et al, 1994;King, 1994).…”

“…Variability can be examined by considering cob morphological differences of maize remains from each phase. As discussed above, the morphology of maize is the product of genetic, environmental, and other developmental factors (Adams et al, 1999;Benz, 1994b;Goodman and Paterniani, 1969;King, 1994;Sánchez González et al, 1993;Turkon, 2006). Indeed, researchers have studied maize at the morphological level to ascertain the possible races of maize present in archaeobotanical assemblages as well as the production of maize in distinctive ecological contexts (Benz, 1994b;Benz and Iltis, 1990;Bird, 1994;Bird and Bird, 1980;Doebley and Bohrer, 1983;Johannessen et al, 1990;King, 1994;Miksicek et al, 1981;Huckell, 2006;Turkon, 2006;Villa Kamel et al, 2003).…”

“…Researchers continue to study the particular attributes useful for documenting the racial and ecological influences on maize morphology (e.g., Adams et al, 1999;Benz, 1994b;Bird, 1994;Goodman and Paterniani, 1969;Sánchez González et al, 1993;Johannessen et al, 1990;King, 1994;Turkon, 2006). Maize row number is considered a useful measure of racial affiliation as row number is established early during the plant's reproductive development and is, therefore, less affected by ecological conditions (Adams et al, 1999, p. 489).…”

“…Concomitantly, the circulation and distribution of food items financed political institutions via either direct consumption or more indirect means, where food was converted into other commodities, currencies, and services. The processing and consumption of foods also was a critical means for establishing and contesting conditions of difference and identity based on ethnicity, class, gender, and community (Brumfiel, 1987(Brumfiel, , 1991aRodriguez-Alegria, 2005;Turkon, 2004Turkon, , 2006. This article examines the changing role of maize agriculture during the Postclassic by focusing on carbonized maize remains recovered from Xaltocan, a community that developed into a powerful kingdom with tributaries, a centralized market, and an expansive system of chinampa agriculture only to be conquered and incorporated into the Aztec empire.…”