in southern Mexico is related to Chapalote (Mangelsdorf 
et al., 1964) as is also the earliest prehistoric corn from 
Swallow Cave in Sonora, Mexico (Mangelsdorf and 
Lister, 1956) and from Bat Cave in New Mexico 
(Mangelsdorf et a/., 1967). Ears, kernels, and cobs of 
this race have also been identified among the prehistoric 
specimens from archaeological sites in Arizona, Utah, 
Colorado, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and ‘Texas. This race, 
originating from its wild progenitor in southern Mexico, 
spread through western and northwestern Mexico and 
from there throughout the region now the southwestern 
United States. It has not been found, however, either 
archaeologically or among existing races, in lowland 
eastern Mexico. There the earliest corn is Nal-Tel, a 
race closely related to Chapalote and perhaps stemming 
from it. Nal-Tel is found today in Yucatan and Cam- 
peche and sporadically in Oaxaca and Guerrero. One 
collection of this race has been made in San Luis Potosi 
(Wellhausen et a/., 1952). The chief difference between 
these two ancient races is in pericarp color, Chapalote 
having brown and Nal-Tel orange pericarp. Other dif- 
ferences include shape of the ear and hairiness of the 
cupules. Although the differences are not consistent, 
Chapalote tends to have a longer, more tapering, cob 
than Nal-Tel and to have cupules which are less hairy. 
The fact that Chapalote is the predominating race in 
the prehistoric cobs from Canyon Infiernillo caves while 
the early corn from La Perra Cave is exclusively Nal-Tel 
(Mangelsdorf et al., 1956) suggests that races of culti- 
vated maize, like other artifacts, are characteristic of the 
cultures to which they belong. The people who occupied 
La Perra Cave were evidently related to lowland agri- 
culturists of eastern Mexico while those of the Canyon 
Infiernillo caves had their affinities westward and north- 
ward (MacNeish, 1958). It would also appear that races 
[ 38 ] 
