We just got the results of our pollen/parasite and marcrofloral analysis of
a privy in southeastern Iowa which dates approximately 1860-1873 based on
manufacturing dates of bottles within the privy (although two free-blown
bottles may make the privy extend earlier). The analysis was conducted by
Linda Scott Cummings and Kathryn Puseman at Paleo Research Labs in Colorado
and both pollen and seed evidence of tomato was found in this privy. I don't
know about Kentucky but I would think that the increase in use of tomatos
would be at least as early as southeast Iowa if not earlier.
 
 
Susan Snow
Project Archaeologist
Office of the State Archaeologist
University of Iowa
Iowa City, IA 52242
(319)335-2396
(319)335-2776 FAX
[log in to unmask]