Donald Ugent

Archaeological potato tuber remains from the casma valley of peru

A collection of 21 preserved tubers of the potato from 4 archaeological sites situated in the Casma Valley of Peru is illustrated and described. The collections from these sites date from the Preceramic Period (2000 B.C.) to the Initial Ceramic Period (1200 B.C.). Identification of the tuber remains was undertaken through a stud) of their starch grains. Comparative material used for this purpose included other archaeological collections of tuber remains from the sites of Chilca and Pachacamac, as well as the fresh and dried tubers of modern-day wild and cultivated potato species.

Archaeological manioc (Manihot) from Coastal Peru

Preserved remains of manioc(Manihot) from 6 archaeological sites in the Casma Valley of Peru are illustrated and described. The combined collections from these sites total 197 pieces of root, 32 bark fragments, 22 pieces of stem, 4 capsules, and 2 leaf twigs. Based on radiocarbon assays, the specimens range in age from 1800 B.C. to A.D. 1532. This collection of sweet manioc is unique for its age, number, and wealth of different plant parts. A theory on the place of origin and time of domestication of these ancient cultivars is given in the conclusions of this paper.

Potato remains from a late pleistocene settlement in southcentral Chile

Taxonomic and evolutionary relationships between the Chilean cultivars ofSolanum tuberosum and the wild speciesS. maglia are explored. Widely separated centers of origin are postulated for the Group Tuberosum and Group Andigena varieties of the common potato. The first group is believed to have been domesticated originally in the humid forest-lands of southcentral Chile, while the second appears to have arisen in the high, cold Andes of Peru and Bolivia. In connection with the origin of the Group Tuberosum varieties, a 13,000-yr-old specimen ofS. maglia from the archaeological site of Monte Verde, Chile, is illustrated and described for the first time. These remains, the oldest on record for any wild or cultivated potato species, are important in that they help to establish the area of southern Chile as one of two main centers for evolution of the common potato.

New evidence for ancient cultivation ofCanna edulis in Peru

Preserved rhizomes ofCanna edulis from 5 archaeological sites in the Casma Valley of Peru are illustrated and described. These were identified by their extant surface features and by their starch grains, which are different from those of any other known flowering plant species. Based on radiocarbon assays, these specimens range in date from 2250–295 B.C. Materials used for comparative purposes in this study included a collection of edible canna from the Peruvian archaeological site of Pachacamac and a modern-day specimen. A theory on the place of origin and time of domestication of this species is given in the conclusions of this paper.

Early Holocene coca chewing in northern Peru

Chewing coca in South America began by at least 8000 cal BP: our authors found and identified coca leaves of that date in house floors in the Nanchoc Valley, Peru. There were also pieces of calcite — which is used by chewers to bring out the alkaloids from the leaves. Excavation and chemical analysis at a group of neighbouring sites suggests that specialists were beginning to extract and supply lime or calcite, and by association coca, as a community activity at about the same time as systematic farming was taking off in the region.

MEDICINE, MYTHS AND MAGIC: THE FOLK HEALERS OF A MEXICAN MARKET

There is a street set apart for the sale of herbs, where can be found every sort of root and medical herb which grows in the country. There are houses like apothecary shops, where prepared medicines are sold, as well as tinctures, ointments and poultices.

New editor for Economic Botany

Dr. Donald Ugent, presently editor of the web journal Ethnobotanical Leaflets and past treasurer of the Society for Economic Botany, has been appointed editor of Economic Botany effective with Volume 54, 2000. Professor Ugent received his Ph.D. in botany and genetics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison in 1966. His doctoral research, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and conducted in the highlands of Mexico and South America, was concerned with the origins of the cultivated potato. Professor Ugent has been curator of the Southern Illinois University Herbarium and adjunct professor at the Center for Archaeological Investigations at SIU for over 30 years. He also serves as adjunct curator of botany with the SIU Museum. Professor Ugents interest in the evolution of the cultivated potato focused initially on the taxonomy and biosystematics of the various wild and cultivated forms and broadened in scope to include archaeological plant remains. His investigations of midden deposits found at various Peruvian archaeological sites was later influential in turning his attention to the botanical origins of several other important cultivated Andean species. His publications in Economic Botany vary in scope from a study of the geography and primitive culture of the potato in Mexico (1968) to a study of archaeological potato tuber remains from Casma, Peru (1982), to an analysis of late-Pleistocene potato remains discovered in a prehistoric village settlement in south central Chile (1987). Other papers deal with the evidence for the ancient cultivation of Canna edulis in Peru (1984) and the analysis of manioc remains from Peruvian coastal sites (1985). He has also been a frequent contributor to the book review section of the journal. Dr. Ugent expresses his sincere thanks to Lawrence Kaplan, outgoing editor (1991-1999), for his outstanding service and commitment to the society. His dedication to the job will be long remembered. Dr. Kaplan has seen Volume 53 (1999) through to publication. He wishes to express appreciation to all members of the Society for Economic Botany for their assistance and forbearance, and especially to authors, reviewers, the Book Review Editor, the Publication Committee, the Board of Associate Editors, officers of the society, the Managing Editor, the staff of Allen Press, and his part-time assistants. He will continue to work toward completion of the long term index, Volumes 1-50. The new editor invites all with an interest in the various sub disciplines of economic botany to contact him if they would like to review manuscripts for Economic Botany or if they have suggestions of ways to improve the journal. All manuscripts to be considered for publication in Economic Botany should now be sent to: