A large variety of fleshy fruits was used by the Fredricks site population, but only a few are represented in relatively large quantities. Grape (Vitis sp.) and persimmon (Diospyros virginiana L.) are both particularly well represented. Groundcherry (Physalis sp.) seeds were found in the same quantities as grape seeds in the 1985 sample. However, three-season totals rank grape higher than groundcherry both as percentage of identified seeds and as number per gram of plant food remains. Maypops (Passiflora incarnata L.) also ranks higher than groundcherry based on these totals (Table 34). In the 1985 sample, bramble (Rubus sp.) was present but less well represented than most other fleshy fruit taxa. Of the fleshy fruits exclusive of peach, grape also ranks highest by ubiquity, followed by persimmon and hawthorn (Table 30).
Peach (Prunus persica L.), however, ranks higher than any of the presumably non-cultivated fleshy fruits mentioned above. Peach was first introduced to North America by the Spanish (Sheldon 1978) and spread rapidly to Southeastern Indian groups apparently somewhat independently of direct contact with Europeans (Gremillion 1985). It is represented archaeologically by fragments of the stony endocarp or pyrene, commonly called the "pit," rather than by whole seeds or pits. For these reasons it is given a separate category in weight determinations. As might be expected, representation of peach pit by weight is high (Table 28), as is its ranking by ubiquity (Table 30). Because of the nature of its remains, peach is difficult to compare with smaller-seeded fruits. However, it is safe to say that peach was commonly used, as evidenced by Lawson's observations (Lefler 1967:217) of its use in preparation of "Quiddonies" or cakes, along with other fruits.
Piedmont Indians may have had some familiarity with arboriculture, since they made use of tree fruits like persimmon and hawthorn. These species, like peach, tend to colonize and bear maximum fruit in open rather than thickly forested habitats. Peach trees grow easily with little tending, and produce a large quantity of palatable food relative to the amount of energy invested in their care. Piedmont Indians could probably have grown them quite easily, particularly if they already had experience tending or protecting indigenous fruit trees. However, peach does not appear to have replaced native fleshy fruits, but rather was added to the existing diet. There is no reason to suspect that the minimal amount of energy necessary to maintain a peach tree population would have interfered with other activities.