Plant Remains from the LoDaisKa Site
By Walton C. Galinat
(Below Dr. Galinat has identified key specimens from the site from which data table was completed).
- Area I 82-108 inches
- Gramineae
- Grass fragments—glumes and stems—S/F10/109-113
- (numbers refer to stratigraphic position)
- Liliaceae
- Allium (cernuum?)—wild onion seed—S/G11/103-107
- Fagaceae
- Quercus spp.—acorn S/L11/102-106
- Chenopodiaceae
- Grayia Brandegei—carbonized fruits—S/L11/108-112
- Rosaceae
- Crataegus spp.—partially decayed fragments of hawthorn
- fruits—S/JK11/80-84
- Area II 72-82 inches
- Musci
- Polytrichum (commune?)—S/J11/78-82—this large
- hair-cap moss may have
- been used as padding or insulation.
- Gramineae
- Zea Mays L.—S/G10/75-79—decayed corn cob of 14
- rows and medium diameter similar to that
- of Chapalote maize.
- —S/G10/78-82—fragments, the same as
- above.
- Paspalum spp.—grain—S/K11/78-82
- glumes—S/K11/78-82
- stem—S/L11/78-82
- Cyperaceae
- Scleria spp.—grain—S/L11/78-82 } These sedges
- } indicate the
- } presence of a
- } permanent source
- } of water in
- Carex spp.—grain—S/L11/78-82 } the area.
- Chenopodiaceae
- Chenopodium spp.—fruit—S/L11/78-82
- Leguminoseae
- Lupinus perennis L.—carbonized immature beans—S/L11/78-82
- —May have been roasted as a green vegetable.
- Area III 57-72 inches
- Cyperaceae
- Scleria relicularis—grain, spikelet, and plant fragments
- —S/I9/65-69 (three samples).
- Chenopodiaceae
- Chenopodium spp.—seed—S/L6/68-72
- Rosaceae
- Crataegus spp.—partially decayed fragments of hawthorn fruits
- —S/J11/70-74
- Umbellifereae
- Taenidia spp.—tiny seeds—S/F8/61-55 and S/19/65-69
- Area IV 0-57 inches
- Pinaceae
- Juniperus spp.—wood fibers—S/K9/46-50
- Gramineae
- Zea Mays—fragments from a small diameter, 16-rowed cob.
- Must have borne small kernels, possibly a
- popcorn. S/I11/53-57
- —one kernel of a dent corn—S/0910/22-26.
- Not highly dented, in size and shape does not
- closely resemble modern commercial varieties.
- —one large kernel of yellow sweet corn
- resembling that of modern varieties.
- Must be an intrusion. S/010/MIRB
- (S/010/MIRB was a portion of a collapsed
- material with no stratigraphic position).
- Muhlenbergia spp.—florets with grain destroyed.
- S/08-9/31-35
- Rosaceae
- Prunus spp.—one stone (drupe). S/L7/26-30
- Leguminoseae
- One fragment from a large pod (legume).
- S/L7/26-30
- Boraginaceae
- Lithospermum ruderale—medicinal fruit may have been
- used as a contraceptive—S/L11/50-54
Authors’ Comments on Floral Remains
It is interesting to note the following uses of some of these plants by modern Indians in the general area.
- Boraginaceae, Lithospermum ruderale
- Shoshone—contraceptive
- Gosiute—seeds eaten as food
- Chenopodiaceae, Chenopodium
- Hopi—seeds ground for mush
- Navajo—seeds ground for food
- Chenopodiaceae, Grayia
- Gosiute—seeds gathered
- Fagaceae, Quercus
- Navajo—eaten raw, boiled, roasted, dried like corn meal
- Gosiute—eaten in season
- Gramineae, Muhlenbergia
- Hopi—seeds ground for bread meal
- Leguminoseae, Lupinum
- Gosiute—gathered. Use?
- Musci, Polytrichum
- Gosiute—use?
- Pinaceae, Juniperus
- Gosiute—various uses
- Shoshone—twigs used for medicinal tea
- Navajo—needles used for cold lotions
For further information see: Chamberlain, 1911; Train, Henricks, and Archer, 1941; P. A. Vestal, 1952, P. A. Vestal, 1940 and the bibliographies appended to these works.
Authors’ Comments on Maize from LoDaisKa
Six specimens of Zea mays were recovered from the LoDaisKa Site. These were distributed vertically through the deposit, with 3 assigned to Complex D, 1 to Complex B, and 2 to Complex A. These few examples represent 3 different types of corn. In order to understand the significance of the LoDaisKa material, an attempt has been made to relate it to other prehistoric maize developments.