Complicating the Story: Describing a Domesticated Archaeological Morphological Type of Chenopodium sp. from La Barca, Bolivia

Author(s): 
Langlie, BrieAnna S. - Washington University in Saint Louis, Hastorf, Christine A. - University of California-Berkeley, Bruno, Maria C. - Smithsonian Institution, Washington University in Saint Louis, Bermann, Marc - University of Pittsburgh, and Bonzani, Renee M. - University of Kentucky

This poster will focus on a newly identified, archaeological Formative period, morphological type of Chenopodium sp. fruitat the La Barca site, located in the Department of Oruro, Bolivia. Through the use of scanning electron microscopy and multi-attribute analysis, we have documented this new morphological type, which is distinct from domesticated Chenopodium sp. elsewhere identified prehistorically in the Andes. As a biological relative of the modern domesticate Chenopodium quinoa, the identification of the new anthropogenic morphological type of Chenopodium sp. presents us with insights into the many complexities of the process of domestication, specifically pointing to selection occurring in multiple regions. Understanding the process of the domestication of Chenopodium sp. in the Andes teaches us about the history of this plant and its ecologies, and informs us about past decisions made and values held by people in their interactions with the landscape and their food supplies.