Prehistoric Puebloan yucca (Yucca) quids with wild tobacco (Nicotiana) contents: Molecular and morphological evidence from Antelope Cave, northwestern Arizona. (June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adams, Karen R.; Johnson, Keith L.; Murphy, Terence M.
• Is Part Of: Journal of field archaeology. Volume 40:Number 3(2015)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 324
• Publication Date: 2015-06
• Subjects: Archaeology -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 930.105
• DOI: 10.1179/2042458214Y.0000000006
• Languages: German
• ISSNs: 0093-4690

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x content-type="archive" xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>Unburned yucca (<italic>Yucca</italic>) quids with wild tobacco (<italic>Nicotiana</italic>) contents have been preserved within Antelope Cave in northwestern Arizona. Although the cave was visited during the Archaic, Southern Paiute, and Euro-American periods, material culture remains and radiocarbon dates indicate the heaviest use by the Virgin Anasazi (<sc>a.d.</sc> 1–1000). Quids are wads of fiber twisted or knotted into a ball for insertion into the mouth. Ten of the quids examined were clearly made from the fibers of <italic>Yucca</italic> plants, based on 6–7 base pairs identified via analysis of DNA sequences near the <italic>trnL</italic> gene of chloroplastic DNA. Twenty-seven of thirty quids examined were wrapped around a range of wild tobacco (<italic>Nicotiana</italic>) plant parts (e.g., capsule, seed, calyx, pedicel, main stem, leaf). Quids have been interpreted as serving various needs (food, ceremonial/ritual, other). The inclusion of tobacco and the diverse recovery contexts suggest the Antelope Cave quids provided occupants with a personal stimulant experience.</p> </abstract>