The World’s Oldest Popcorn

Scientists currently believe that corn was originally domesticated around 9,.000 years ago in Mexico and reached South America a few thousand years later. Now they believe they’ve found the world’s oldest popcorn in Peru.

Evidence for the presence of popcorn was found at two sites, Paredones and Huaca Prieta, both located on Peru’s northern coast. Researchers analyzed stalks, cobs, corn husks and tassels and determined that the remains dated from 6,700 to about 3,000 years ago. Though the experts believe that the primitive corn was actually popped, they also believe that it was ground into flour.

The tiny corn cobs measure less than 4 inches, and on first glance bear little resemblance to modern corn. It is interesting that no wild varieties of corn have ever been found either in Mexico or in South America. It is currently thought that corn was deliberately developed from a wild grass called teosinte.

It is also interesting that corn arrived in South America long before the development of pottery and ceramics.

If you are interested in seeing a picture and learning more about this remarkable discovery, click here

The World’s Oldest Elephant Tracks Aren’t in Africa

These tracks are about 7 million years old, and were found at a site located in the Arabian Desert within the United Arab Emirates. They are believed to have been made by about 13 four-tusked, primitive ancestors of modern elephants.
The tracks cover an area of more than 12 acres (5 hectares). Originally thought by locals to be dinosaur prints, they were finally identified in January 2011 when the area was mapped by air.
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