>Is there any eviden ce tamales were used by the ancient indians of
>Mexico/Latina and South America?
>


There are numerous references in Bernardino Sahagún's Florentine Codex, which
is the best single source of pre-Columbian Aztec cookery. Here's one reference:

"White tamales with beans forming a sea shell on top; white tamales with maize
grains thrown in; hard, white tamales with grains of maize thrown in; red
tamales with beans forming a sea shell on top; tamales made of a dough of maize
softened in lime, with beans forming a sea shell on top; tamales of maize
softened in wood ashes; turkey pasty cooked in a pot, or sprinkled with seeds;
tamales of meat cooked with maize and yellow chili; roast turkey hen; roast
quail."

Andy Smith