[Objective] The aim was to research and identify starch grain microfossil found in archaeological sites in China, and to find appropriate procedures for the starch grain analysis experiment.[Method] Wheat starch grain size distribution was analyzed, and some simulated experiments were carried out, like mortar grinding, ultrasonic treatment, hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide immersion, drying treatment, and so on. [Result] The mean size of wheat starch grains had increased in the growth process. Mortar grinding would make wheat starch grains larger than untreated sample. Long time of ultrasonic treatment can also make the starch grain size larger. 10% HCl and 6% H2O2 would have little effects on morphological feature of wheat starch grains. Low temperature heating did not cause starch grains to be gelatinized. [Conclusion] These experiment results can improve the accuracy of starch grain microfossil identification in the archaeological site. Starch grain analysis may be a utility and effective analytical tool in studying the origin of agriculture and the dispersal of crops in China.
江西社山头遗址是赣东北地区新石器时代的典型遗址,尚未开展相关环境考古和植物考古等方面的研究。对该遗址出土陶器内壁残留物的淀粉粒分析表明,内壁残留物中包含了不同种类植物的淀粉粒,主要来自稻类和粟类作物,还有部分块根块茎类植物以及部分暂时不能鉴定的淀粉粒。可鉴定淀粉粒中包括稻类7粒、粟类9粒、块根块茎类2粒。从恢复的植物种类上来看,社山头遗址区域在4500~3500 a BP这段时间的植物利用包括了稻类、粟类和部分块根块茎类植物。本研究结果可以为中国南方地区的植物考古和环境考古研究提供直接证据和补充,说明了该遗址古人类除水稻外其他植物资源的利用情况。同时本研究结果也可为南方地区古人类食谱和植物资源利用结构研究提供方法上的新思路。
Plant utilization is poorly known in South China as compared to North China.Fanchengdui, Zhuweicheng, Shinianshan, and Yinjiaping, which date back to 5-4 ka BP, are typical Neolithic sites located at the middle reaches of the Ganjiang River in Jiangxi Province.Due to the lack of systematic plant archaeological work, only rice straw and husk residues have been found in some archaeological sites in Jiangxi Province.Thirteen stone tools excavated from these sites were examined in this study.The results showed that among the plants utilized are Coix spp., Oryza spp., Vigna spp., plants from the tribe Triticeae, roots from some plants of Zingiberaceae, and other species of roots and tubers.More than 457 grains were retrieved from the 13 stone tools.The fact that Coix spp.were found in all stone tools suggests that these species were a major food source during the Neolithic era.In addition, 28 starch grains of Oryza spp.were found in 8 stone tools.The analysis also revealed that not only seeds of Gramineae but also those of Leguminosae, Zingiberaceae and other species of roots and tubers are among the plants utilized in the four Fanchengdui culture sites.These results indicate that ancient plant utilization was rather diverse, and this study elucidates the prehistoric agricultural systems of South China.
WAN ZhiWeiYANG XiaoYanGE QuanShengFAN ChangShengZHOU GuangMingJIANG MeiXin
