Plant Remains from the LoDaisKa Site
Reading edition
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.