Análisis paleoetnobotánico de los macrorrestos botánicos de Zea mays registrados en las terrazas arqueológicas de Joyagzhí, Cuenca del Chanchán

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to analyze paleoethnobotanically the botanical macroremains of Zea mays recorded in the archaeological terraces of Joyagzhí (Chanchán basin), for the identification of the genetic varieties that were used by pre-Hispanic Kañaris societies. Which had the specific objectives: to characterize morphologically and biometrically the modern seeds of Zea mays from the Chanchán basin, to characterize biometrically the botanical macroremains of Zea mays recorded in the archaeological terraces of Joyagzhí and to determine the variety and/or varieties of Zea mays which were cultivated on the pre-Hispanic terraces of Joyagzhí. This is based on the use of morphological analyzes (shape, surface features, surface quality, color pattern, transparency, apex, external apex) and biometric analyzes (length, width, thickness, weight, ratio 1, ratio 2) of modern seeds and paleocarcass remains of corn. The results allowed the characterization of 9 current varieties of corn seeds located in the Chanchán River basin, of which 30 seeds for each variety were taken to be analyzed. For its part, the biometric characterization of the paleobotanical macroremains allowed the analysis of 24 corn grains from Excavation Unit J4, in the following sedimentary levels: Level 7, Level 8, Level 9, Level 10, Level 11 and Level 12. To determine the variety and/or varieties of Zea mays, descriptive statistical analyzes (box plot) and multivariate similarity analyzes (CA Correspondence Analysis, PCA Principal Component Analysis and Bray-Curtis Cluster Analysis) were done. It is concluded that the carpological diversity of the modern varieties of corn that are distributed in the Chanchán basin is due to the influence caused by the domestication processes known as the "domestication syndrome". As well as that, the genetic variety of corn that was selected by the pre-Hispanic farmers of the Chanchán basin was the Sarayunga variety.