CHERIMOYA AND GUANABANA IN THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL RECORD OF PERU
1997; SAGE Publishing; Volume: 17; Linguagem: Inglês
ISSN
2162-4496
AutoresThomas Pozorski, Shelia Pozorski,
Tópico(s)African Botany and Ecology Studies
ResumoMost researchers commonly assume that both cherimoya (Annona cherimolia) and guanabana (Annona muricata) have long been a part of the prehistoric record of ancient Peru. However, archaeological and ethnohistoric research in the past 25 years strongly indicates that cherimoya was not introduced into Peru until ca. A.D. 1630 and that guanabana is only present after ca. A.D. 1000and is mainly associated with sites of the Chimu culture. RESUMEN.-La mayorfa de los investigadores suponen que tanto la chirimoya (Annona cherimola)como la guanabana (Annona muricata) han sido parte del registro prehist6rico del anti guo Peru por largo tiempo . Sin embargo, las in vestigaciones arqueol6gicas y etnohist6ricas de los ultimos veinticinco afios indican fuertemente que la chirimoya no fue introducida al Peru sino hasta 1630 D.C., Y que la guanabana esta presente s610 despues de aproximadamente 1000 D.C., Y esta asociada principalmente con sitios de la cultura chirmi. RESUME.- La plupart des chercheurs supposent couramment qu'une espece de pomme cannelle (Annonacherimolia)et le corossol (Annonamuricata) ont fait partie , pendant une longue periode, de l'inventaire prehistorique du Perou. Toutefois, les recherches archeologiques et ethnohistoriques des vingt-cinq dern ieres annees indiquent fortement que la pomme cannelle A. cherimolia ne fut introduite au Perou qu'aux environs de 1630 apr. J.-c. et la presence du corossol n'est attestee qu 'en 1000apr. J.c. et uniquement associe aux sites de la culture chirrui. Two members of the custard apple family (Annonaceae), cherimoya or chirimoya (Annona cherimolia Mill.) and guanabana or soursop (Annona muricata 1.), have long been cited as important tropical fruits for the prehistoric inhabitants of ancient Peru. However, archaeological research over the past 25 years has un covered evidence indicating that current general perceptions of the past utilization and importance of these two fruits are based on misconceptions. Current evidence suggests that cherimoya was not introduced to Peru until the early 17th century whereas guanabana was introduced to Peru in late precolumbian times and is associated almost exclusively with Chimu sites dating to A.D. 1000 or later. Modem botanical information on the two species is limited. The native home of the cherimoya is believed by some botanists to be the temperate mountain val leys of southwestern Ecuador near the area of Loja (National Research Council 1989:229), although most authorities suggest that its wild habitat extends into simi lar valleys in northern Peru (De Candolle 1959 :176; Hill 1952 :417; MacBride 1938:757; Popenoe 1921:334, 1945:17; Rehm and Espig 1991:193; Sauer 1950:528; Towle 1961 :38) . Cherimoya is currently more widely grown and eaten than guanabana, although its popularity and production, even in Latin America, are
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