Researchers find the earliest evidence of domesticated maize

New biological evidence from Mexico’s Central Balsas River Valley indicates maize was first domesticated 8700 years ago, 1200 years earlier than previously thought. Maize derives from teosinte, a wild grass native to central America and Balsas teosinte is the closest species to maize and that is found in the Central Balsas River Valley.


Balsas teosinte

Archaeological analysis has also found very early grinding tools which was used to grind the maize and this enabled the researchers to get a date of 8700 years ago. Remnants of maize starch, which is different to teosinte starch, was found on the tools.