| origin and environmental setting of ancient agriculture in the lowlands of mesoamerica. | archaeological research in the gulf coast of tabasco reveals the earliest record of maize cultivation in mexico. the first farmers settled along beach ridges and lagoons of the grijalva river delta. pollen from cultivated zea appears with evidence of forest clearing about 5100 calendar years b.c. (yr b.c.) [6200 (14)c years before the present (yr b.p.)]. large zea sp. pollen, typical of domesticated maize (zea mays), appears about 5000 calendar yr b.c. (6000 yr b.p.). a manihot sp. pollen grain ... | 2001 | 11359011 |