When were squash and gourds first cultivated in Middle America?

In Middle America, the cultivation of squash began during the Archaic period, with evidence indicating that indigenous peoples were successfully domesticating these plants as early as 8000–7000 BCE. Other archaeological findings, such as those from the Infernillo phase in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas, suggest that native squash was being cultivated by approximately 6500 BCE.12

While squash is well-documented as one of the foundational crops of Mesoamerican agriculture alongside corn and beans, the specific term "gourds" often refers to members of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes both edible squash and various hard-shelled ornamental or utilitarian varieties. Because these plants are closely related and share a long history of human selection, their early domestication is often discussed together in the archaeological record of the region.4325