1. The Archaic Period 8000 BC – 2500 AD ANTH 221: Peoples and Cultures of Mexico Kimberly Martin, Ph.D.

2. The Archaic Period Domestication of maize (corn) Beginnings of pottery Beginnings of sedentism Atlatls replace spears Stone awls and drills Stone axes, Bone fish hooks

3. Signs of Domestication Plants Larger food portion Less efficient seed dispersal Animals Population demography (male/female ratio) Morphological changes Animal burials Diet ( isotopes present in bone, wear on teeth)

4. Domesticated Maize Wild Ancestor: Teosinte – Zea mays (ssp. Parviglumis) The earliest archaeological sites where domesticated maize has been found: – Coxcotlan Cave, Tehuacan Valley, Pueblo – Guila Naquitz, Oaxaca – Xihuatoxtia Cave, Guerrero

6. Guila Naquitz Cave, Oaxaca Domesticated Squash seed found at Guila Naquitz Cave in addition to evidence of domesticated teotsinte, pinyon, cactus fruit, gourds 8000-6500BCE

7. Xihuatoxtla Shelter, Guerrero Occupied for over 7000 years from about 9000BCE.

8. Coxcatlan Cave, Tehuacan 7000-5400 BP Semi-nomadic groups who divided their time between small hunting encampments and larger temporary villages. Villages were used as bases for collecting wild plants such as various grasses and maguey and cactus fruits. Maize (Zea mays), avocados, chili peppers, amaranth, zapothes, tepary beans and squash were domesticated. The diet consisted of 52% wild produce, 34% meat, and 14% agricultural products. There is evidence of horticulture on steep slopes of the valley. Coxcatlan cave has 28 occupational layers or zones.

9. Other Domesticates Dogs may have been domesticated by early migrants in Asia Squash (8000 BCE) Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) 5000 BCE Turkeys (100 BCE)