A Wild Potato that Changed the Story of Agriculture in the American Southwest

A Wild Potato’s 10,000-Year Journey Through the Southwest

Ancient Indigenous peoples transported a wild potato across the Southwest, expanding its range thousands of years ago. More than 10,000 years ago, people living in the American Southwest carried a wild relative of today’s potato across long distances, helping the plant spread beyond its original habitat. According to a study published today (January 21, 2026) [...]

A wild potato that changed the story of agriculture in the American Southwest

Starchy residue preserved in ancient stone tools may rewrite the story of crop domestication in the American Southwest, according to research led by the University of Utah.

Evidence of ancient wild potato domestication in the American Southwes