'Unparalleled' discovery of ancient skeletons sheds light on mystery of when people started eating m

[Judi Lynn]

2. Rare ancient skeleton discovery helps solve big food mystery

Brittany A. Roston - Jun 3, 2020, 3:10 pm CDT

Researchers with the University of Exeter have announced the discovery of ancient skeletons that help solve a big food mystery: when did humans in Central America start eating maize as a staple food? The discovery is described as ‘unparalleled’ because the skeletons were ‘remarkably well-preserved’ in the rock shelters where they were found.

Maize, also called corn, joins wheat, rice, and other crops as a staple food that millions of people around the world rely on. The mystery of when humans started eating this crop to a significant degree has remained unsolved in the thousands of years since the crop was first cultivated.

The ancient skeletons were discovered in a well-preserved state despite the humid environment, which makes it ‘extremely rare’ for researchers to find human remains this old that are in such useful conditions. Co-director of the field excavations Dr. Mark Robinson explained:

This is the only example of a burial site in the Neotropics used repeatedly for 10,000 years, giving us an unparalleled opportunity to study dietary change over a long time period, including the introduction of maize into the region. This is the first direct evidence to show when the change in people’s diets occurred and the rate at which maize increased in economic and dietary importance until it became fundamental to peoples dietary, economic, and religious lives.

More:
https://www.slashgear.com/rare-ancient-skeleton-discovery-helps-solve-big-food-mystery-03623574/