Bat Cave

A cave in southern New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns National Park, notable for its evidence of prehistoric plant cultivation. The site of Bat Cave has produced specimens of a type of primitive corn that is also known from the Flacco phase in Tamaulipas at 2000 BC but that is here in association with a Chiricahua assemblage from which Cochise materials (maize and squash) have been dated at about 1000 BC. Evidence of beans (dated to 1000-400 BC) was found in association with San Pedro materials. Early levels indicate the use of primitive pod corn (dated c 3500 BC), but a cultivated form of maize was in use by 2500 BC, the earliest date for cultigens in the American Southwest. During the summer a colony of several million bats inhabits the cave.

Site in southwestern New Mexico, USA, notable for its evidence of prehistoric plant cultivation. Early levels indicate the use of primitive pod com (dated <3500 bc), but a cultivated form of maize was in use by 2500 bc, the earliest date for cultigens in the American Southwest. Both maize and squash remains were found in association with Cochise materials of the Chiricahua stage, and evidence of beans (dated to 1000-400 bc) was found in association with San Pedro materials. These plants represent the three basic staples which underlie North American agriculture, although a cave location seems far more appropriate to the earlier Archaic lifestyle, based on hunting and gathering.