Development and application of methods used to source prehistoric Southwestern maize: a review
Journal of Archaeological Science
By: Larry V. Benson
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Abstract
Archaeological cobs free of mineral contaminants should be used to source the soils in which they were grown. Mineral contaminants often contain much higher concentrations of metals than vegetal materials and can alter a cob’s apparent metal and heavy-isotope content. Cleaning a cob via immersion in an acid solution for more than a few minutes will result in the incongruent and sometimes complete leaching of metals, including strontium (Sr), from the cob. When using 87Sr/Sr to determine the location of potential agriculture fields, it is best to either integrate several depth-integrated soil samples or to integrate several vegetation samples from individual fields. Biologically labile Sr in semi-arid Southwestern soils largely originates from eolian source or sources and usually is not derived from underlying bedrock. Existing Sr-isotope data indicate that archaeological cobs from Aztec Ruins came from either the Mesa Verde-McElmo Dome or Totah areas, that Pueblo Bonito and Chetro Ketl cobs, from Chaco Canyon that predate A.D. 1130, probably came from the Rio Chaco corridor, and that cobs from Chaco Canyon, that postdate A.D. 1130, probably came from either the Totah or Zuni areas.
Suggested Citation
Benson, L.V., 2012, Development and application of methods used to source prehistoric Southwestern maize: a review: Journal of Archaeological Science, v. 39, no. 4, p. 791-807, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2011.08.022.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Development and application of methods used to source prehistoric Southwestern maize: a review |
| Series title | Journal of Archaeological Science |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.jas.2011.08.022 |
| Volume | 39 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Year Published | 2012 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Elsevier |
| Description | 17 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Journal of Archaeological Science |
| First page | 791 |
| Last page | 807 |