Phenotypic Variability in Maize (Zea Mays) from Caserones-I, Tarapacá Region, Northern Chile
Authors
Alejandra Vidal Elgueta
Laboratorio de Paleoecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Chile. Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa. Facultad de Patrimonio
y Educación USEK
Erika Salazar
Unidad de Recursos Genéticos, Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias. La Platina, Av. Santa Rosa 11.610, La Pintana
Luis Felipe Hinojosa
Laboratorio de Paleoecología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Chile. Las Palmeras 3425, Ñuñoa
Mauricio Uribe
Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile. Av. Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1045, Ñuñoa
Sergio Flores
Departamento de Antropología, Facultad de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de Chile. Av. Ignacio Carrera Pinto 1045, Ñuñoa
This study examines the Phenotypic variability of maize from the Archaeological site Caserones-1, comparing seven characters in samples from two periods: Formative and Late Intermediate (LIP) (cal. 20-1.020 d.C.). Considering the ancient relationship between this species and several human groups in America (ca. 7.500 AP), as well as the general tendency of genetic variability to decrease as a consequence of selection and domestication, the hypothesis presented here focuses on decreasing phenotypic variability from the Formative to the Late Intermediate Period as a result of anthropic processes. The findings depict an inverse panorama: according to Principal Component Analyses, length is the characteristic showing the most intense transformation across both periods, considerably increasing in the upper range, and in the variability reached during the Formative Period. These results offer valuable evidence on the dynamics of selection and anthropic processes by some communities at pre-Hispanic Tarapacá.
Keywords:
Domestication, Maize, Principal Component Analysis, Caserones, Tarapacá
Vidal Elgueta, A., Salazar, E., Hinojosa, L. F., Uribe, M., & Flores, S. (2017). Phenotypic Variability in Maize (Zea Mays) from Caserones-I, Tarapacá Region, Northern Chile. Revista Chilena De Antropología, (34). Retrieved from https://revistachilenahumanidades.uchile.cl/index.php/RCA/article/view/45147
