Evidence for the Upland Origins of Indigenous Plant Domestication on the Southern Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee

Though decades of research have established the earliest dates for domesticated seed crops in Eastern North America, questions about the actual process remain unanswered. Today most models suggest a significant shift occurred either in heavily populated river valleys or in uplands frequently utilized by prehistoric groups. The recovery of early domesticates from both riverine and upland sites has fueled an ongoing debate regarding the specific geographical context of initial plant domestication. Here, we present archaeological evidence from two upland rockshelters that represent subtle yet significantly different landscape positions on the Southern Cumberland Plateau. By considering the macrobotanical data and the implications for annual foraging rounds, the availability of wild plant foods, and the initial appearance of wild and domesticated plants, we suggest that the uplands provided a suitable landscape for incipient plant domestication.