The Isthmus of Panama as a Crossroad for Prehistoric Migration of Domesticated Plants |
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Authors: | Brücher Heinz |
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Institution: | (1) CRICYT, cas. correo 131, 5500 Mendoza, Argentina |
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Abstract: | For thousands of years, Indian tribes have gathered, selected, domesticated and spread useful plants over the whole American
continent while mostly practicing shifting forms of horti-agriculture. It has been argued that origin and domestication of
New World crops could be traced back to essentially two independent, narrowly circumscribed core regions, (i.e. Vavilov's
genecentres) one in the highlands of Mexico and the other in the Andes of Peru. Those alleged centers of origin and genetic
diversity have been synchronized with the main cradles of American agriculture. Based on long periods of research work in
South America, we disagree with this opinion which is maintained primarily by anthropologists, sociologists and ethnologists.
Except for marginal desert and mountain environments, there are no real biogeographical restrictions for plant domestication.
Apparent geographical barriers, like the Darien gap, did not represent insurmountable hindrances for the diffusion and migration
of useful species in the hands of indigenous peoples. |
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