Phaseolus from Ceren-A Late Classic Maya Site

摘要

Archaeological investigations at Cer,n, a well-preserved Classic period Maya site in El Salvador, have recovered an abundance of carbonized bean remains, both Phaseolus vulgaris and P. lunatus. Surprisingly, the Cer,n P. vulgaris bean remains were derived from both wild and domesticated populations. This find reveals that the Late Classic inhabitants continued to draw upon wild food sources even though they had clear access to a full array of domesticated food crops. This discovery not only offers insights into human behavior patterns of the past, but also has implications for the genetic interchange between wild types and cultivars. This potential genetic proximity helps to explain the multiple origins of Phaseolus domestication and the proliferation of its varieties.