BOTANICAL MUSEUM LEAFLETS 
HARVARD UNIVERSITY 
CamBripce, Massacuusetts, May 1, 19638 Vo. 20, No. 5 
SPREAD OF EIGHT-ROWED MAIZE 
FROM THE PREHISTORIC SOUTHWEST 
BY 
W aLTon C. GALINAT! AND JAMES H. GUNNERSON? 
THe origin and diffusion of maize (Zea mays) in the 
North American Southwest is of interest to both the 
maize breeder and the archaeologist. The interest of the 
maize breeder lies in his search for the sources of effective 
germplasm for use in the development of better maize 
hybrids. ‘The archaeologist is interested in the history of 
maize because of its association with the growth and 
spread of those prehistoric cultures in which this cereal 
played a prime role. 
BoraNIcAL Data 
It is now apparent that most, if not all, of the races of 
Southwestern maize came from adjoining areas in Mexi- 
co, although, as will be discussed later, one race which was 
important to the evolution of this cereal may have come 
originally from South America. Both Mexico and the 
Southwest had the same ancient indigenous race, Chapa- 
lote, which underwent a slow evolutionary change for 
several thousands of years, until two separate and sudden 
evolutionary spurts were triggered by two new elements: 
first, teosinte, a wild relative of maize; and, later, an 
‘Bussey Institution (mailing address: Botanical Museum) and 
* Peabody Museum of Harvard University, Cambridge 38, Mass. 
eave 
