Cucurbita: cultivation Before the Great Flood

Cucurbita, a genus that includes squashes, pumpkins, and gourds, has captivated human societies for millennia. These versatile plants have long been a staple of agriculture, providing sustenance, storage vessels, and even musical instruments. But what if we look even further back—could the cultivation of Cucurbita stretch to a time before the Great Flood, approximately 12,800 years ago?

Tracing Cucurbita’s Ancient Origins

The domestication of Cucurbita has been well documented in archaeological studies, suggesting that it was one of the earliest cultivated crops in Mesoamerica. Recent findings date the earliest confirmed domestication of Cucurbita to around 10,000 years ago, but the possibility that it was used by even earlier civilizations remains intriguing.

In regions across Mexico and Central America, archaeologists have unearthed Cucurbita seeds and remnants in ancient middens (refuse heaps). Radiocarbon dating has provided dates of around 10,000 BCE for some of these finds. While most experts agree this was a key period in the domestication of plants, a few researchers have proposed that cultivation could have started even earlier, before the climatic shifts that occurred during the Younger Dryas period and the Great Flood.

Possible Evidence Before the Great Flood

1. Flood Narratives and Ancient Agriculture: Many cultures tell of a Great Flood, most famously in the Bible and in Mesopotamian writings. These tales are often linked to the cataclysmic event that took place approximately 12,800 years ago, as sea levels rose and landscapes transformed. It is difficult to determine exactly which plants were cultivated prior to this event, but some intriguing clues exist. In several early Mesoamerican settlements, researchers have found pollen and phytoliths (microscopic plant structures) associated with squash and other Cucurbita species. This evidence suggests a long history of cultivation that might have extended into the pre-Flood era.
2. Genetic Traces and Ancestral Cultivation: Modern genetic analysis of Cucurbita species indicates a surprisingly diverse genetic history, suggesting multiple domestication events. Some scientists believe that these early attempts at cultivating wild Cucurbita could date back further than current archaeological evidence can clearly show. It is possible that pre-Flood humans, adapting to early agricultural practices, cultivated Cucurbita in small plots, contributing to its genetic diversity.

The Role of Cucurbita in Ancient Cultures

Cucurbita was significant not only for food but also for cultural practices. Gourd artifacts have been discovered in burial sites, and their use as water containers is well-documented. The relationship between humans and Cucurbita has always been more than just agricultural—it was part of rituals, art, and the way communities adapted to changing environments.

Cucurbita in Folklore and Mythology

Cucurbita features prominently in many native myths and folklore across the Americas. For example:

1. The Nahua Creation Myth: In Nahua mythology, Cucurbita gourds are associated with the creation of the world. It is said that after a great flood, the gods used the remains of a giant gourd to create the first landmass, allowing life to begin anew.
2. Hopi Stories of Survival: In Hopi oral traditions, squash and gourds played an important role in survival during difficult times. According to one story, when early Hopi people were forced to migrate through arid lands, they carried dried gourds filled with seeds and water, which sustained them until they reached fertile ground. The gourds were believed to have protective powers, and they became symbols of endurance and resourcefulness.
3. Maya Mythology: In Maya mythology, there is a tale in which the gods created humans from maize and other cultivated plants, including Cucurbita. Squash was one of the key elements used to shape the bodies of the first humans, highlighting its importance in the creation and sustenance of life. The Maya also used gourds in ceremonies and offerings to symbolize the cyclical nature of life and death.

Chinese Folklore and Mythology Involving Cucurbita

In Chinese folklore, Cucurbita also plays an important role, often symbolizing abundance and good fortune:

1. The Legend of the Magic Gourd: In Chinese folklore, there is a popular story known as the “Legend of the Magic Gourd” (Hulu). The story tells of a young boy who finds a magical gourd that grants his wishes. The gourd is depicted as a symbol of prosperity and magic, representing the fulfillment of desires and the power of transformation. This story has become a beloved tale for children and has been adapted into various forms of media over the years.
2. The Immortals and the Gourd: In Daoist mythology, gourds are often associated with immortals and alchemists. One of the Eight Immortals, Li Tieguai, is frequently depicted carrying a gourd filled with elixirs of immortality. The gourd symbolizes the ability to transcend the physical world, and it represents the mystical qualities attributed to certain plants in traditional Chinese culture. It is believed that gourds could trap evil spirits or hold magical potions, linking Cucurbita to the spiritual and supernatural realm.

West African Folklore: In West African cultures, gourds are also significant in mythology and spiritual practices. The Yoruba people of Nigeria consider the gourd a sacred symbol linked to the origin of the universe. In one Yoruba creation myth, the god Obatala used a gourd to descend from the heavens and create the land. The gourd symbolizes fertility, creativity, and the connection between the spiritual and earthly realms. Gourds are used in traditional ceremonies, as musical instruments, and in rituals that honor ancestors and the gods.

Japanese Mythology: In Japan, gourds, known as “hyotan,” hold symbolic importance in various myths and legends. One notable myth involves the hero Momotaro, who was born from a peach but later used a gourd to carry sacred sake that helped him defeat ogres. Gourds are also associated with protection and good luck. Samurai often carried small gourds as charms, believing they provided spiritual protection in battle.

Medicinal Uses of Cucurbita in Traditional Cultures

Cucurbita has been used in various cultures as folk remedies:

1. Native American Remedies: Pumpkins were used by Native Americans to treat intestinal worms and urinary ailments. This remedy was later adopted by American doctors in the early nineteenth century as an anthelmintic for the expulsion of worms.
2. Southeastern Europe: In southeastern Europe, seeds of Cucurbita pepo were used to treat irritable bladder and benign prostatic hyperplasia. In Germany, pumpkin seeds are approved by Commission E, which assesses folk and herbal medicine, for treating irritated bladder conditions and micturition problems of prostatic hyperplasia stages 1 and 2, although studies validating this use are limited.
3. China: In China, Cucurbita moschata seeds have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for treating parasitic diseases such as schistosomiasis and for the expulsion of tape worms.
4. Mexico: In Mexico, herbalists use Cucurbita ficifolia, believing that it helps to reduce blood sugar levels.

The FDA in the United States banned the sale of all such non-prescription drugs for the treatment of prostate enlargement in 1990.

If early humans were cultivating Cucurbita before the Flood, it might have played a role in their survival strategies, as a source of both food and practical tools. These plants, with their hardy nature and diverse uses, would have been ideal for communities facing unpredictable environmental challenges.