PEOPLE first cultivated maize much earlier than previously thought, say
archaeologists who’ve been studying the oldest cobs unearthed so far from caves
in southern Mexico. The prehistoric specimens suggest that maize’s wild
ancestors were domesticated at least 6500 years ago. But we may never know where
the first corn grew.
Maize is one of the world’s most important crops. And researchers think
ancient Central Americans created it by breeding desirable traits into a wild
annual grass called teosinte. The grass produces wheat-sized clusters of grain,
which explains why the oldest cobs found are no bigger than a small pencil.
Ten…
