Conclusions
Three observations can be made. First,P. oleracea andM. verticillata were present in temperate eastern North America 2500-3000 years ago.
Second, the intimate association of purslane and carpetweed with human activities leads us to speculate that the spread of these weeds was in part due to the American Indian. It is likely that purslane occurred in the same plots where the Salts Cave inhabitants cultivated sunflower (Helianthus annuus), sumpweed (Iva annua), chenopod (Chenopodium sp.), squash (Cucurbita pepo), and gourd (Lagenaria siceraria).
Third, the identifications of these two species emphasizes the potential and the need for cooperation between scientists in various disciplines. Paleoethnobotany can contribute much to the understanding of plant histories and their relationships to man.
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Chapman, J., Stewart, R.B. & Yarnell, R.A. Archaeological evidence for precolumbian introduction of portulaca oleracea and mollugo verticillata into Eastern North America. Econ Bot 28, 411–412 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862857
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02862857