UC researchers confirm domesticated sunflower in Mexico

Researchers from the University of Cincinnati and Florida State University have confirmed the discovery of a domesticated sunflower in Mexico, nearly 4,000 years before what had been previously believed.

The researchers have unearthed data demonstrating that the sunflower has been cultivated since at least 2600 B.C.

It had been thought that the sunflower was domesticated only in the middle Mississippi valley, in states such as Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, and Illinois.

According to PhysOrg, this discovery means that there's a possibility of cultural exchange between North America and Mesoamerica, though the link hasn't been proven.

In a paper on their findings, the researchers wrote that "the discovery of ancient sunflower in Mexico refines our knowledge of domesticated Mesoamerican plants and adds complexity to our understanding of cultural evolution."

Read the full article here.