When was maize cultivated in Central America?

When was maize cultivated in Central America?

• A. 3000 years ago
• B. 7000 years ago
• C. 5000 years ago
• D. 1000 years ago

Answer: (C)

Maize cultivation in Central America began roughly five thousand years ago. Archaeobotanical finds—charred kernels and small cobs—from sites in the region are dated to about 3000 BCE, showing a shift from wild teosinte to cultivated maize. The change in plant traits, such as larger ears and kernels that stay on the cob instead of shattering, helps identify domestication. This timeline reflects how maize spread from its origins in southern Mexico into Central America over several millennia. The date around five thousand years ago is the best-supported point for when people in Central America started farming maize.

Maize cultivation in Central America began roughly five thousand years ago. Archaeobotanical finds—charred kernels and small cobs—from sites in the region are dated to about 3000 BCE, showing a shift from wild teosinte to cultivated maize. The change in plant traits, such as larger ears and kernels that stay on the cob instead of shattering, helps identify domestication. This timeline reflects how maize spread from its origins in southern Mexico into Central America over several millennia. The date around five thousand years ago is the best-supported point for when people in Central America started farming maize.