Comments on: Ancient popcorn discovered in Peru http://smithsonianscience.org/2012/01/ancient-popcorn-discovered-in-peru/ News about the Smithsonian’s research in the fields of anthropology, astrophysics, conservation biology, geology, materials science, paleontology, zoology, and global climate change. Mon, 08 Dec 2014 08:04:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 By: Alex Grobman http://smithsonianscience.org/2012/01/ancient-popcorn-discovered-in-peru/#comment-18729 Thu, 02 Feb 2012 21:59:00 +0000 http://smithsonianscience.org/?p=17343#comment-18729 Dear David,

You are correct. Peru has many untapped arachaeological areas which need major attention in regard to the study of agricultural origins and which are likely to disclose secrets well preserved for thousands of years. We have just scratched the surface. In studies in several archaeological sites some of us have been able to reconstruct the origins of maize agriculture in Peru. We have undoubted proof that it is very anciente and its early races are unique. Furthermore our earliest maize in Peru, whether in the Coast or Sierra does not show any morphological traits that would link it to teosinte.

Alex

]]> By: David Schneider http://smithsonianscience.org/2012/01/ancient-popcorn-discovered-in-peru/#comment-18573 Wed, 18 Jan 2012 18:40:46 +0000 http://smithsonianscience.org/?p=17343#comment-18573 It is too bad that more areas were not conducive to preserving the record of corn’s (maize) progression to Peru. Living on the Northern Coast of Peru, it is easy for us to see why this climate is just right for preserving perishable goods – no measurable rainfall in the 2 “rainy” seasons we have been here :-)

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