Acta Anthropologica Sinica ›› 2019, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (01): 132-147.doi: 10.16359/j.cnki.cn11-1963/q.2018.0036

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Starch grain analysis of the grooved basin from the Lingjiatan site, Hanshan county, Anhui Province

SUN Qingli1,2(), SHUO Zhi3, WU Yan2,4, YANG Yimin2,5()   

  1. 1. Cultural Relics and Archaeology Institute of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Urumchi 830011
    2. Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100044
    3. Anhui Institute of Archaeology and Cultural Relics, Hefei 230061
    4. CAS Center for Excellence in Life and Paleoenvironment, Beijing 100044
    5. Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049
  • Received:2018-02-17 Revised:2018-05-10 Online:2019-02-15 Published:2020-09-11
  • Contact: YANG Yimin E-mail:slili2010@163.com;yiminyang@ucas.ac.cn

Abstract:

The function of the grooved basin in the Neolithic Period in China is diverse, and starch grain analysis provides important information. In this study, 18 potsherds, excavated at Lingjiatan Site(5500~5300BP) in Anhui Province, were examined for starch grain analysis. The results show that ancient starch grains mainly came from Coix lacryma-jobi L., unidentified Poaceae and Triticeae tribe, followed by Quercus L., other root and tuber plants; the starch grains of Vigna sp., Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and Nelumbo nucifera. were also found. Thus, the ancient people gathered multiple plant foods that were available in their environment. Furthermore, a large number of broken and gelatinized damaged starch grains show that these special potteries were used to grind and cook plants. The statistical results further indicate that the subsistence did not change significantly in different period. However, the ancient people had consciously reduced the consumption of Coix lacryma-jobi L. and unidentified Poaceae, but they gradually increased the exploitation of Triticeae tribe, Quercus L., Vigna sp. and root and tuber plants. The analysis of processed starch grains show that the plant processing method was mainly by grinding/pounding and sometimes by cooking. This reflects a lack of change in the function of these grooved basins over time.

Key words: starch grain, Lingjiatan site, grooved basin, economy formation, processing method, pottery function

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