Pumpkin History
Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C. The word pumpkin comes from the Greek word pepõn for a large melon. "Pepon" was changed by the French into "pompon” then the English changed "pompon" to "Pumpion." American colonists changed "pumpion" into "pumpkin."
Early Origins
Pumpkins belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes cucumbers, melons, squash, and gourds. The most common genus and species name for pumpkin is Cucurbita maxima. They are actually considered a fruit not a vegetable. In the earliest findings, pumpkins and squash were not as they appear today. They resembled something like the Crooked-Neck Squash of today. Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash." Pumpkin was used as a staple in their diets centuries before the pilgrims landed. They planted pumpkin along with corn and beans known as the "Three Sisters". This method of planting with pumpkins and squash has been recorded in many areas excavated believed to have been inhabited by Native American Indians. One such area we have visited is the Mesa Verde National Park Manitou Cliff Dwelling Ruins. The Anasazi cliff dwellings date between 800 to 1000 years old.
A Multi-Purposed Fruit
Native Americans dried strips of pumpkin, pounded it flat then wove it into mats. They would roast long strips of pumpkin and seeds on the open fire, or it could be boiled, baked and eaten. It could be easily stored and dried for extended use throughout the long winters. Pumpkin was used to feed livestock and served a medicinal purpose. It was also used in building materials and jewelry. When the settlers arrived, they saw the pumpkins grown by the Indians and it soon became a diet staple lasting throughout centuries.
All Images © Twin Silos Farm/Terry Neutz Hayden