SC - Peanuts-possibly OOP

[Shari Burnham]

LrdRas at aol.com wrote:

> Does not the archeological finds of anchor stones from Chinese junkets off the
> the west coast of the states make an equally valid observation that peanuts
> MAY have been introduced  to the New World by Chinese traders during  pre-
> Columbian times?

Hmm.  Since it is a plausible theory that some trading might have gone on between
China and new world, maybe not directly but more through islands?  I am thinking
that the route between say, China and Mexico/latin america area is far, maybe too
far for period chinese ships to travel?(I don't know alot about style or seafaring
chinese vessels at this time) would it be easier to assume that perhaps a larger
group of new world-like Aztec, mayan, pacific coast indians- maybe trade with
smaller islands, with products working their ways up through southeast asia, or
even via northern regions like Alaska-japan-korea?  I remember in my North
American archeology class that the Aztecs and Mayans were really vast traders,
having items from as far away as the northern tips of arctic circle and all
through southern tips of South America.  But, I have a question- did peanuts come
from china to new world, or from elsewhere to china, or elsewhere to new world?
Just because it was traded, may not have been a popular item, just unique.
Remember when history books talked about Thomas Jefferson transplanting certain
plants to France, and they were like "how quaint" and wouldn't eat them?  things
like corn, and sweet potatos.  could be same theory-"oh how interesting plant,
came from where?"  but not sufficient quantities to enter into regional cooking?

> There is also evidence, IIANM, that a form of miniature corn forund in China
> predated Columbus as well as the possibility that certain capsicum varieties
> also existed in China pre-Columbian. Thgis is not to say that they are native
> of China necessarily but the possibility exists. that these plants were
> introduced by the Chi8nese through trade with early American Indian cultures.
> Thoughts?
>
> Ras
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