Early Acceptance of Watermelon by Indians of the United States
Entry/Object ID
2012.21.348
Description
Early Acceptance of Watermelon by Indians of the United States from Journal of Ethnobiology, Vol. 1, No. 2, December, 1981, pp193-199.
Modern authorities agree that watermelon is an Old World plant that probably originated in Africa. Watermelons were grown by the Spanish in the Southeastern United States before 1576 and their presence was noted 50 leagues inland and in the Southwest before the end of the 16th century. Over the next 100 years there is increasing historical evidence of their use by Indians over a wide area. Some early accounts indicate that more than one kind of watermelon was grown. It is suggested that there may have been multiple introductions and that the plant was readily accepted by the Indians because it could be successfully cultivated by the same methods used for the native squash.
7/Reprint from Journal of Ethnobiology; Volume 1, Number 2
Collection
Archaeology Documents
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Journal
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Book
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Other Documents
Nomenclature Class
Documentary Objects
Nomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication Objects
LOC Thesaurus for Graphic Materials
Archaeology, Watermelons
Search Terms
Native American
Publication Details
Author
Leonard W. Blake
Place Published
Location
UNKNOWN
Date Published
1981
Call No.
Archaeology BL
Notes
Copy No.: 1
Condition
Overall Condition
Good
Maintenance
Maintenance History
Date
Dec 22, 2012
Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Michael Fisher, Leonard Blake, Journal of Ethnobiology
