Maize Cobs and Cultures: History of Zea mays L.

Maize Cobs and Cultures: History of Zea mays L.

Author: John Staller

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2009-12-02

Total Pages: 266

ISBN-13: 3642045065

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Our perceptions and conceptions regarding the roles and importance of maize to ancient economies is largely a product of scientific research on the plant itself, developed for the most part out of botanical research, and its recent role as one of the most important economic staples in the world. Anthropological research in the early part of the last century based largely upon the historical particularistic approach of the Boasian tradition provided the first evidence that challenged the assumptions about the economic importance of maize to sociocultural developments for scholars of prehistory. Subsequent ethnobotanic and archaeological studies showed that the role of maize among Native American cultures was much more complex than just as a food staple. In Maize Cobs and Cultures, John Staller provides a survey of the ethnohistory and the scientific, botanical and biological research of maize, complemented by reviews on the ethnobotanic, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary methodologies.


Maize

Maize

Author: Duccio Bonavia

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2013-05-13

Total Pages: 605

ISBN-13: 1139619942

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This book examines one of the thorniest problems of ancient American archaeology: the origins and domestication of maize. Using a variety of scientific techniques, Duccio Bonavia explores the development of maize, its adaptation to varying climates and its fundamental role in ancient American cultures. An appendix (by Alexander Grobman) provides the first-ever comprehensive compilation of maize genetic data, correlating this data with the archaeological evidence presented throughout the book. This book provides a unique interpretation of questions of dating and evolution, supported by extensive data, following the spread of maize from South to North America and eventually to Europe and beyond.


Histories of Maize

Histories of Maize

Author: John Staller

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-12-05

Total Pages: 1129

ISBN-13: 1315427311

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Maize has been described as a primary catalyst to complex sociocultural development in the Americas. State of the art research on maize chronology, molecular biology, and stable carbon isotope research on ancient human diets have provided additional lines of evidence on the changing role of maize through time and space and its spread throughout the Americas. The multidisciplinary evidence from the social and biological sciences presented in this volume have generated a much more complex picture of the economic, political, and religious significance of maize. The volume also includes ethnographic research on the uses and roles of maize in indigenous cultures and a linguistic section that includes chapters on indigenous folk taxonomies and the role and meaning of maize to the development of civilization. Histories of Maize is the most comprehensive reference source on the botanical, genetic, archaeological, and anthropological aspects of ancient maize published to date. This book will appeal to a varied audience, and have no titles competiting with it because of its breadth and scope. The volume offers a single source of high quality summary information unavailable elsewhere.


Histories of Maize in Mesoamerica

Histories of Maize in Mesoamerica

Author: John Staller

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2016-06-16

Total Pages: 281

ISBN-13: 1315427281

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Abridged and updated version of the basic work on the development of maize, including 20 chapters of interest to Mesoamerican specialists, updated with recent findings and interpretations.


Maize for the Gods

Maize for the Gods

Author: Michael Blake

Publisher: Univ of California Press

Published: 2015-08-28

Total Pages: 280

ISBN-13: 0520276876

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Maize is the worldÕs most productive food and industrial crop, grown in more than 160 countries and on every continent except Antarctica. If by some catastrophe maize were to disappear from our food supply chain, vast numbers of people would starve and global economies would rapidly collapse. How did we come to be so dependent on this one plant? Maize for the Gods brings together new research by archaeologists, archaeobotanists, plant geneticists, and a host of other specialists to explore the complex ways that this single plant and the peoples who domesticated it came to be inextricably entangled with one another over the past nine millennia. Tracing maize from its first appearance and domestication in ancient campsites and settlements in Mexico to its intercontinental journey through most of North and South America, this history also tells the story of the artistic creativity, technological prowess, and social, political, and economic resilience of AmericaÕs first peoples.


Authenticity of Foods of Plant Origin

Authenticity of Foods of Plant Origin

Author: Konstantinos Kotsanopoulos

Publisher: CRC Press

Published: 2022-06-15

Total Pages: 279

ISBN-13: 0429627661

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Food is adulterated to increase profit or due to negligence. Adulteration can compromise food safety and quality, and harm consumers. This may undermine consumer trust and the reputation of the food industry. As such, it is very important to monitor, control and detect adulteration. A number of techniques have been developed for the authentication of food and verifying its quality and associated claims. Foods of plant origin are the source of nutrients for billions of people around the globe. Due to the huge variety of plants, and the lack of visual characteristics as a result of processing, advanced techniques are required to detect adulteration. This book reviews the latest developments in the field of authenticity of foods of plant origin, examining concepts such as traceability, and how they are applied to facilitate the support of claims, as well as legislative requirements in the major economies around the world. The basic techniques used nowadays in verifying authenticity of these types of foods are reviewed and discussed, and their applications are summarized. The book also focuses on categories of foods most prone to adulteration attempts due to their characteristics, properties and production methods commonly followed, thus allowing the reader to more easily identify the chapter that is of interest in each case. The book will be of interest to food industrialists, chemists, quality control scientists and technologists, microbiologists, analytical chemists and food physical chemists within the food industry. It is also aimed at academicians who are interested in the authenticity of foods of plant origin and the advancements in the analytical fields that support relevant legal and marketing requirements.


New Prospects of Maize

New Prospects of Maize

Author:

Publisher: BoD – Books on Demand

Published: 2024-01-24

Total Pages: 247

ISBN-13: 1837686319

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New Prospects of Maize stands at the forefront of agricultural literature, offering an incisive look into the evolution and future pathways of maize cultivation. This volume distills cutting-edge research and progressive methodologies into a compelling narrative on enhancing maize’s role in global food security and sustainability. It traverses critical topics such as genetic diversity, technological advancements in farming practices, and the sophisticated science of genomics, reflecting a commitment to agricultural innovation. Essential for academics, industry experts, and policymakers, this book is a vital tool for anyone invested in the sustainable development of one of the world’s most important cereal crops. With its forward-looking perspectives, New Prospects of Maize is not only a repository of knowledge but also a guide to fostering resilience in a changing agricultural landscape.