Archeologists document first use of maize as food in Mesoamerica: study

A study in Science Advances reveals that prehistoric Americans began consuming maize as a staple food. Researchers analyzed carbon isotopes in skeletons from Belize, showing a dietary shift from wild animals and plants to maize, which eventually constituted 70% of their diet. This transition was accompanied by the development of sedentary farming and genetic changes in maize, leading to larger crops.

What method did researchers use to study the dietary habits of prehistoric Americans?

• DNA analysis

• Fossil examination

• Radiocarbon dating

• Carbon isotope analysis

What was the primary diet of pre-maize hunter-gatherers around 9,000 years ago?

• Maize and beans

• Wild animals and plants

• Rice and fish

• Fruits and nuts

Approximately how much of the diet did maize constitute 4,700 years ago?

• 70%

• 50%

• 10%

• 30%

What farming practice did Mesoamericans adopt that increased maize consumption?

• Terrace farming

• Slash-and-burn agriculture

• Sedentary farming

• Nomadic herding

What changes in maize plants were speculated to have occurred due to human selection?

• Smaller seeds and fewer rows

• Larger cobs and more seed rows

• Shorter stalks and fewer leaves

• Thicker husks and smaller kernels