ACCELERATOR MASS-SPECTROMETRY (AMS) DATES CONFIRM EARLY ZEA-MAYS IN THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY

Two accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates obtained from samples of Zea mays from the Holding site, 11MS118, in the American Bottom near East St. Louis, Illinois, establish the presence of maize in the Missi ssippi Valley between 170 B.C. and A.D. 60. The dates finally establis h the occurrence of Middle Woodland maize in Illinois and are the earl iest dates thus far for maize east of the Mississippi River. Other rep orts of early Middle Woodland maize in the Midcontinent region should not be discounted unless AMS dating and other supporting information s how the maize to be a contaminant at the site at which it occurs. Rece nt stable carbon-isotope experiments suggest that the relative contrib ution of maize to Middle Woodland diets is still an open question.