that a cut was excavated. The first two levels (40 em.) 
produced a substantial number of sherds. Below this 
the clay used to build the mound was almost sterile, 
except for several thin layers of ash and charcoal con- 
taining a few sherds. Below the sterile clay at level 6 
(120 cm.), there appeared a thick deposit of ash and 
charcoal from which seventeen charred maize cobs and a 
charred mass of ears were recovered. Also present in this 
layer were sherds, seeds of Caesalpinia coriaria, an un- 
Tansie [. Comparison in various ear characteristics of the prehistoric 
corn from El] Tiestal site, Venezuela, with those of the modern 
race Pollo. 
Characteristic Prehistoric A pollo* 
Diameter mm. ear 22.0 29,3 
7 cob 13.0 14.3 
. rachis 3.0 8.1 
Length mm. rachilla 2.0 1.4 
- glumes 5.0 3.1 
Kernels, length mm. 13 8.54 
: width °° 6.3 7.94. 
“ thickness mm. 4.1 4,96 
as row number 8 10 
* Data from Roberts ef a/., 1957. 
identified palm nut, charred wood, deer, rabbit, bird and 
snake bones, and a large number of insect larval cells. 
Beneath the ash deposit was a completely sterile gravel 
layer of undetermined depth. 
The maize cobs found at this site may be the oldest 
prehistoric maize yet found from sites in northern South 
America. It appears to be an early form of the primitive 
Colombian popcorn race, Pollo, described by Roberts 
et al. (1957). Especially convincing are the ears which 
occurred in the charred mass. One of these proved to be 
quite well preserved and furnished the data on the vari- 
ous dimensions set forth in Table |, where they are com- 
[ 106 | 
