Amazing isn’t it that squash survived!

For genetic evidence you need to talk to Bernard. I am no scientist. I am however a voracious reader of archaeology reports pertaining to the Andean region. Let me quote to you from Early Settlement and Subsistence in the Casma Valley, Peru by Shelia and Thomas Pozorski. In this quote they are discussing the plant remains found at Huaynuna in the Casma Valley the site dates are 2200 – 1800 BC.

“Plant remains are well preserved and occurred in all the excavated levels. Cotton (Gossypium barbadense) and gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) remains are most abundantly and consistently represented throughout the stratigraphic excavations. The excavated sample includes gourd seeds and rinds as well as cotton seeds, fibers, and boll and stem parts. Moderate amounts of squash (Cucurbita ficifolia and C. Maxima) and lucuma (Lucuma bifera) [a fruit] are fairly evenly distributed through the strata cut, whereas remains of pepper (Capsicum sp.), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas), archira (Canna edulis) [a tuber] and unidentified bean pods occur more rarely within the middle levels of excavation. Marine algae, cane (Gynerium sagittatum, and other wild plants were also recovered.”

Of course we shouldn't be surprised to find gourd, its very tough and hard. But finding squash, fruits, potatoes ... is an indication of the wonderful preservation.


Kat

Ma'at Moderator

Founder and Director of The Hall of Ma'at

Contributing author to Archaeological Fantasies:
How pseudoarchaeology misrepresents the past and misleads the public
"If you panic, you're lost" -- W. T. 'Watertight' Southard