EVIDENCE FOR DOMESTICATED AMARANTH FROM A SEDENTARY PERIOD HOHOKAM HOUSE FLOOR AT LAS CANOPAS

Abstract

Flotation-processed fill from an inverted bowl on the floor of a late Sedentary period house floor (A.D. 1020–1150, calibrated 1-sigma range C-14 date) at the Las Canopas site on the Salt River in Phoenix, Arizona, yielded approximately 1,500 charred amaranth seeds along with domesticated maize (Zea mays ssp. mays) kernels, tepary beans (Phaseolus acutifolius), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) seeds. The amaranth seeds are morphologically different from wild types and have the properties of a domesticated species as determined from seed coat (testa) measurements. We conclude that both pale and dark-seeded domesticated amaranth seeds were present in the bowl, having seed coat thicknesses of 3.7-6.1 microns (pale) and 8.3-14.2 microns (dark), respectively. We also review the Hohokam literature and discuss concentrations of amaranth from possible storage contexts and from additional sites where analysts suggested that specimens represent domesticates. The context and anatomical characteristics of the Las Canopas amaranth support the inference that it was produced as a crop and contributed to the diets of late Sedentary period farmers in the Phoenix Basin. More studies of this type, combined with additional baseline research needed to understand seed characteristics of all native amaranth species, can lead to better informed assessments of the significance of cultigen amaranth for Sonoran Desert farmers.