Basketmaker II Agriculture: Maize Domestication and Introduction of Squashes, Beans, Turkeys

April 16, 2026Bioarchaeology

Source: Basketmaker Culture and Puebloan Origins by Ancient Americas

Site mentioned

📍 Turkey Pen Ruins

The Three Sisters weren't always in the Southwest! Carbon-13 isotopes show Early Agricultural Period diets had no maize, but Basketmaker II diets became maize-dependent. Around 1000 BCE, genetic studies reveal a new wave of maize arrived from Mexico, and cobs grew slightly larger with 10-12 row varieties appearing. Squash joined the diet after 1000 BCE, then beans around 500 years later. Beans proved crucial for companion planting, growing up maize stalks while adding nitrates back to depleted soil. At Turkey Pen Ruins, turkey coprolites reveal these birds were domesticated on corn-heavy diets. Interestingly, domesticated turkeys came from Texas and Oklahoma populations, not local wild turkeys, suggesting long-distance trade in animals! 🦃

Key facts

Carbon-13 isotope ratios show EAP diets lacked maize; by Basketmaker II period, values rose substantially showing maize-dependent diets
Maize cobs became slightly larger with 10 and 12 row cobs appearing with increasing frequency in Basketmaker II
Genetic studies show around 1000 BCE, a new wave of maize arrived from Mexico
After 1000 BCE, squash started appearing in diets; 500 years later, beans entered Southwestern diets
Beans complement maize by growing up the stalk for support and adding nitrates back into depleted soil
Wild plants exploited include wolfberry, Mexican crucillo, goosefoot, amaranth, ground cherry, tansy mustard, and hog potato
Turkey Pen Ruins site yielded turkey coprolites showing they were domesticated on a diet of maize
Genetic material shows domesticated turkeys came from populations in Texas and Oklahoma, not locally
Turkeys were useful for meat, bones and feathers