Paleoethnobotanist, archaeobotanist, starch grain analyst, archaeologist, anthracologist, Ancient Maya, Teotihuacan, Coastal Peru, West and Central Africa, Early Neolithic (Paris Basin)
De 2015 à 2017, les fouilles préventives menées par l’Agence wallonne du Patrimoine à Ath ont mis au jour un site du Néolithique ancien exceptionnel à plus d’un titre. D’abord, il s’agit de la plus vaste occupation de cette période explorée dans la région d’Ath (1,2 ha). Ensuite, il constitue aussi le premier établissement découvert le long du bras oriental de la Dendre. Enfin, le site des « Haleurs » présente surtout la particularité de voir des vestiges des deux cultures du Néolithique ancien, répartis à moins de trois mètres : trois unités d’habitation attribuées au Rubané et deux bâtiments datés du Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint- Germain. Cette spécificité nous a alors permis d’engager une analyse spatiale et morphologique des structures et un examen des activités productives des deux communautés pour apporter un éclairage nouveau sur les relations entretenues entre ces deux implantations du Néolithique ancien. Notre étude démontre de profondes ruptures qui témoignent d’une discontinuité de peuplement entre les deux périodes. On ne peut cependant nier une forme globale de continuité dans la connaissance des environnements propices, dans les répertoires des formes et décors céramiques, dans l’ambiance technique générale ou dans les activités artisanales. Cette double composante alimenterait l’hypothèse d’une transition culturelle caractérisée par un processus endogène qui s’est déroulé en dehors de l’aire géographique étudiée.
Abstract From 2015 to 2017, the preventive excavations carried out by the Walloon Heritage Agency in Ath have brought to light an Early Neolithic site that is exceptional in more ways than one. The village extends over approximately 1.2 ha and, as such, it is the largest village of this period studied in the Ath region. It is the first settlement along the eastern branch of the Dender. The ‘Haleurs’ site has the particularity of seeing the remains of two Early Neolithic cultures cohabiting within three metres of each other: three houses attributed to the LBK and two buildings dated to the Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain. This specificity allowed us to undertake a detailed study of the architecture and productive activities of the two communities in order to shed new light on the relationship between these two Early Neolithic settlements. Our study shows deep breaks that testify to a discontinuity in settlement between the two periods. However, we cannot deny an overall form of continuity in the knowledge of suitable environments, in the repertoires of ceramic forms and decorations, in the general technical atmosphere or in the craft activities. This double component would feed the hypothesis of a cultural transition characterised by an endogenous process that occurred outside the studied geographical area. Keywords: North-Western Europe, Belgium, Early Neolithic, pottery, lithic industry, grinding tools, cultural transition
Maize (Zea mays) was a fundamental part of the diet for the Classic period Maya (ca. 250–900 CE) ... more Maize (Zea mays) was a fundamental part of the diet for the Classic period Maya (ca. 250–900 CE) and other Mesoamerican societies. Nixtamalization, the process whereby maize is cooked in an alkaline solution, is important as it enhances the nutritional value of maize, among other reasons. However, documenting this process in the archaeological record is not straightforward. A microbotanical study of residues collected from ceramic vessels and grinding stones from Late Classic (ca. 600–900 CE) contexts at the Lowland Maya site of La Corona (Peten, Guatemala), revealed the presence of starch spherulites. Their authenticity was confirmed by polarized microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imaging combined with iodine staining. We argue that nixtamalization as a cooking technique was occurring at La Corona during the 7th and 8th centuries CE. We present evidence from ceremonial contexts, specifically burial and feasting/commensal events. This is the earliest evidence of lime-treated maize in the Maya area recovered directly from ceramic vessels linked to preparation and/or consumption of food.
Despite the extensive literature on the retrieval of digestible starches from archaeological cont... more Despite the extensive literature on the retrieval of digestible starches from archaeological contexts, there are still significant concerns regarding their genuine origin and durability. Here, we propose a multi-analytical strategy to identify the authenticity of ancient starches retrieved from macrolithic tools excavated at Upper Paleolithic sites in the Pontic steppe. This strategy integrates the morphological discrimination of starches through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with single starch chemo-profiling using Fourier transform infrared imaging and microscopy. We obtained evidence of aging and biomineralization in the use-related starches from Palaeolithic sites, providing a methodology to establish their ancient origin, assess their preservation status, and attempt their identification. The pivotal application of this multidisciplinary approach demonstrates that the macrolithic tools, from which starches were dislodged, were used for food processing across the Pontic Steppe around 40,000 years ago during the earliest colonization of Eurasia by Homo sapiens.
Underground storage organs are poorly preserved in the archaeological record, and as a result the... more Underground storage organs are poorly preserved in the archaeological record, and as a result their contribution to the diet of ancient societies is poorly understood. Starch grain analysis is a well-established methodology used in archaeology to reveal the use of various plants, including tubers, rhizomes, and roots. This paper presents the results of a study of starch grains recovered from millstones from various archaeological sites located in the Paris Basin. Our results highlight the use of tubers by these first agricultural populations at the beginning of the Neolithic (Linearbandkeramik and Blicquy-Villeneuve-Saint-Germain; 5200-4700 BC), providing new data on their contribution to the diet of agro-pastoral societies.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022
A multimethod archaeometry study (zooarchaeological, isotopic, ancient DNA, paleobotanical, and r... more A multimethod archaeometry study (zooarchaeological, isotopic, ancient DNA, paleobotanical, and radiocarbon dating) of a spider monkey sacrificed in the ceremonial center of Teotihuacan, Mexico (1 to 550 CE) is interpreted as a diplomatic gift exchange with neighboring Maya. Not only does this spider monkey provide the earliest known instance of primate translocation and captivity in Mesoamerica, it helps date incipient modes of interregional diplomacy between two major powers during Early Classic Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan and the Maya. Details of human–primate interaction include age at capture and transport (before ∼3 y of age), captive duration (over 2 y), anthropogenic diet (staple was maize, though secondary resources unique to anthropogenic diet including arrowroot and chili pepper were also found), context of sacrifice (tethered and associated with complete golden eagle and an array of other statecrafts), and general site context (including presence of Maya vessels and Maya-style murals). The timing of the spider monkey’s sacrifice (250 to 300 CE) and its life history suggest a reconsideration of epigraphically attested militaristic involvement of Teotihuacan at certain Maya sites. We propose that a period of more multilateral and fluid ritual exchange with Maya dignitaries preceded the Teotihuacan state’s eventual ascent to prominence.
Starch grain analysis carried out on 23 ceramic sherds from 6 refuse pits from the site of Nachti... more Starch grain analysis carried out on 23 ceramic sherds from 6 refuse pits from the site of Nachtigal in central Cameroon is shedding light on a longstanding debate regarding ancient diets in Central Africa during the Iron Age (IA, 2500 years BP) but also more recently during the Modern Period (ca. 150 BP). The results indicate a varied, but balanced diet, consisting of cereals, legumes, oil-rich seeds, and tubers; the latter being very rarely documented in the region. Moreover, we underscore the presence of taxa still consumed today, or in recent times. Rescue archaeology, and the application of specialized methodologies, are critical to better nuancing past dietary practices in this region.
A selection of five ground stones from Pontic Steppe sites dating back to the Early Upper Palaeol... more A selection of five ground stones from Pontic Steppe sites dating back to the Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) was used as test-cases to be analysed by combining wear-traces and use-related biogenic residues (U-RBR). The artifacts studied can be termed “legacy” objects, excavated even many decades ago and kept in museum storage facilities. This type of storage might be considered putatively prone to contamination. The multidimensional contextual approach we designed integrates the structural analysis of biogenic residues by means of visual light optical and electronic beams microscopy (OM/VLM and SEM) coupled with FTIR microspectroscopy and imaging (using both conventional and synchrotron infrared sources). SEM and FTIR are meant to provide high resolution morphological and chemical profiles and their coupled analysis revealed the presence of starch grains from the used areas of the stone tools. The goal of this paper is to present a reasoned streamlined procedure to collect appropriate samples suitable to detect the presence of ancient starches from ground stones tools recovered in museum collections.
The recovery of macro- and microbotanicals, along with the study of chemical residues, allows us ... more The recovery of macro- and microbotanicals, along with the study of chemical residues, allows us to shed light on a number of anthropological issues concerning ancient populations. This article reviews the data available to date on the plants used by preceramic peoples during the Archaic period and by the Early to Middle Preclassic Maya across the central Maya lowlands. Archaeobotanical data suggest that early preceramic populations took advantage of their ecologically rich natural environment by gathering a range of wild foods and by cultivating domesticates such as maize, manioc, and chili peppers, a pattern that seemingly continued into the Early to Middle Preclassic, as the Maya settled into village life and left more visible traces of modifications to their natural environment in the form of canals and terraces. This region is of particular interest with regard to the development of sociopolitical complexity, as mobile huntergatherers used domesticates during the millennia that preceded the onset of sedentary life. These early populations set the stage for patterns of plant use that endured through time, but also across space in the Maya region.
Recent advances in the role played by dietary carbohydrates in human food webs during the Palaeol... more Recent advances in the role played by dietary carbohydrates in human food webs during the Palaeolithic highlight that starchy foods were part of the diet well before crop domestication. Although certain plants can be eaten raw, intentional processing such as mechanical reduction using stone tools and thermal treatment readily increases the assimilation of nutrients for metabolic functions and for storing. We present a multi-techniques approach designed to combine micro to nanoscale analyses applied to percussive stones to identify their function using micro-wear traces and use-related biogenic residues. The starch grains extracted from functionally active areas of the ground stone tools were scanned using optical microscopy (OM) down to the nanoscale (SEM) and by applying different spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques like FTIR, ToF-SIMS, and IRMS. The combined analyses carried out at different resolutions – morpho-structural and molecular levels – contribute to an unprecedented methodological refinement regarding the intentional processing of starch- rich plants as early as 40,000 years ago at the boreal latitudes. Our preliminary data on pestles and grinding stones from Early Upper Palaeolithic sites of the Pontic steppe (Moldova and Russia) show the suitability of the analytical techniques involved and also the difficulties encountered in detailing authentication procedures of ancient starch candidates.
While we know that cereals played an important role in the diet of Linearbandkeramik (LBK) and Bl... more While we know that cereals played an important role in the diet of Linearbandkeramik (LBK) and Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain (BVSG) populations in the Paris Basin, many questions remain to be answered as to the real contribution of other plants. To assess this topic, the recovery of other lines of data beyond macrobotanicals is crucial: starch grains have the potential to reveal additional information regarding past plant use. However, in Western Europe, in particular, for the Neolithic period, there is a significant lag in the development of the discipline. We, therefore, present how our current reference collection (composed of nearly 100 taxa spread across 35 families) was established, the reasoning behind our plant selections, and where the material comes from. Overall, our work shows that even though not all the selected plant organs produce diagnostic starch grains, it may be possible to broaden the spectrum of plants likely consumed by Early Neolithic (and beyond) populations in the Paris Basin, in particular concerning the use of wild plants and specific plant parts, especially underground storage organs (tubers, rhizomes, roots, bulbs, etc.). We believe our research will help guide future scholars in the creation of their own starch grain reference collection and to carry out such analyses on archaeological material from this region by consulting our image database. We conclude by providing a brief summary of what the starch grain record in the Paris Basin tells us to date on ancient plant use.
This article reconstructs the final diet of sacrificed domestic camelids from Huanchaquito-Las Ll... more This article reconstructs the final diet of sacrificed domestic camelids from Huanchaquito-Las Llamas to understand whether feeding was part of the ritual practice. The site is situated on the northern coast of Peru and is dated to the fifteenth century AD (Late Intermediate period; LIP). It was used by the Chimús to kill and bury a large number of camelids, mostly juveniles. We reconstructed the final meal of 11 of the sacrificed individuals by analyzing starch grains derived from the associated gut contents and feces. The starch grains were well preserved and allowed for the determination of five plant taxa. The comparison with previously published and new stable isotope analyses, which provide insights into long-term diet, indicates that the Chimús managed their herds by providing maize as fodder and allowing them to graze on natural pasture; yet they reserved special treatment for sacrificial animals, probably bringing them together a few hours or days before the sacri!cial act. We show for the first time the consumption of unusual food products, which included manioc, chili peppers, and beans, as well as cooked foods. Our study provides unique information on Chimú camelid ritual and herding practices.
Food practices have always been a key issue to reconstruct part of the cultural identities of pas... more Food practices have always been a key issue to reconstruct part of the cultural identities of past and present societies. In archaeology, the question of vegetal processing and consumption has generally been discussed through different, yet complementary lenses that include botanical remains and cooking pots. However, it has seldom been integrated in a combined approach. Our paper explores the characteristics and role of plant transformation in Early Neolithic contexts from the Paris Basin (5100–4900 BCE), by combining use-wear analysis of grinding tools and the study of microbotanical remains (starch grains and phytoliths). Our integrated approach reinforces the interpretations and reduces the methodological limitations that arise when each analysis is considered separately. It also proposes a more complex vision than initially expected regarding the uses and lifecycles of grinding tools in daily plant preparation. Together with the dominant processing of cereals and legumes, tubers and rhizomes appear to have been regularly ground on querns. Different steps in plants processing are also evident, such as dehusking, heating, and sprouting. Other clues point towards the transformation of bark and ferns, known for their varied medicinal properties. These results and related methodological issues support discussions regarding the possible conservatism or innovations in vegetal food practices of Early Neolithic farmers inhabiting a region located at the most westerly point of the Linearbandkeramik expansion during the final centuries of this first wave of Neolithic dispersal throughout the European continent.
While culinary practices evolved during the Middle Ages (historically dated between A.D. 476 and ... more While culinary practices evolved during the Middle Ages (historically dated between A.D. 476 and 1492), these changes are difficult to detect as they are seldom studied. Around the 12th and 13th centuries A.D., changes can be seen in the types of utensils and cooking hearths, but also new animal and plant varieties were introduced, along with recipes used by people in the upper echelons of society being put in writing. These novelties could be the result of changing tastes and modes of preparing food, but to ascertain this we need to study the archaeological materials to determine the cooking methods that may have been used and compare these to their context and time period. To this end, experiments were designed and carried out to determine the traces left behind by different cooking methods. Our results have made it possible to create a reference collection consisting of ceramics as well as faunal and botanical remains. The study of cooking traces, as well as the morphological changes visible on botanical elements, in particular starch grains, have allowed us to establish criteria that can be employed in use-wear analysis. We then compared the experimental reference collection with archaeological materials recovered from Couzan, a Medieval site in Forez, France. Our results support the value of using starch grain analysis when studying the function of dark paste ceramics, and clearly demonstrate the interest of bringing together different sub-disciplines in archaeology when using an experimental approach.
Archaeologists have traditionally thought that the development of Maya civilization was gradual, ... more Archaeologists have traditionally thought that the development of Maya civilization was gradual, assuming that small villages began to emerge during the Middle Preclassic period (1000–350 BC; dates are calibrated throughout) along with the use of ceramics and the adoption of sedentism1. Recent finds of early ceremonial complexes are beginning to challenge this model. Here we describe an airborne lidar survey and excavations of the previously unknown site of Aguada Fénix (Tabasco, Mexico) with an artificial plateau, which measures 1,400 m in length and 10 to 15 m in height and has 9 causeways radiating out from it. We dated this construction to between 1000 and 800 BC using a Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. To our knowledge, this is the oldest monumental construction ever found in the Maya area and the largest in the entire pre-Hispanic history of the region. Although the site exhibits some similarities to the earlier Olmec centre of San Lorenzo, the community of Aguada Fénix probably did not have marked social inequality comparable to that of San Lorenzo. Aguada Fénix and other ceremonial complexes of the same period suggest the importance of communal work in the initial development of Maya civilization.
Direct evidence for the intentional processing of starch-rich plants during the Paleolithic is sc... more Direct evidence for the intentional processing of starch-rich plants during the Paleolithic is scant, and that evidence is often compromised by concerns over preservation and contamination. Our integrated, multimodal approach couples wear-trace analysis with chemical imaging methods to identify the presence of genuine ancient starch candidates (ASC) on ground stones used in the Pontic Steppe starting around 40,000 years ago. Optical and electron microscopy coupled with infrared spectromicroscopy and imaging provide morphological and chemical profiles for ASCs, that partially match the vibrational polysaccharide features of modern reference starches, highlighting diagenetic differences ranging from partial oxidation to mineralization. The results suggest the intentional processing of roots and tubers by means of mechanical tenderization and shed light on the role of dietary carbohydrates during Homo sapiens’ (HS) colonization of Eurasia, demonstrating a long acquaintance with predict...
Desde una perspectiva arqueológica, la recuperación y análisis de granos de almidón-microscópicos... more Desde una perspectiva arqueológica, la recuperación y análisis de granos de almidón-microscópicos gránulos producidos por un gran número de plantas, a través de los cuales es posible identifi car el género o especie de una planta-permiten comprender el uso de las plantas en el pasado. Además de determinar las especies de plantas que fueron consumidas en el pasado, los granos de almidón proporcionan importantes indicios para descifrar las técnicas de elaboración de alimentos que fueron empleadas. Este artículo ofrece una breve introducción respecto a la biología de los granos de almidón y las técnicas utilizadas para su extracción de artefactos antiguos. Además, se presentan los resultados del estudio realizado a varios artefactos mesoamericanos (vasijas y manos de moler) y, asimismo, desde una perspectiva microscópica, se trata de reconstruir las técnicas probablemente utilizadas por antiguas sociedades mesoamericanas para elaborar alimentos.
Abstract: From an archaeological perspective, the recovery and analysis of grains of starch-microscopic granules produced by a large number of plants through which it is possible to identify the genus or species of a plant-allow to understand the use of plants in the past. In addition to determining the plant species that were consumed in the past, starch grains provide important clues to decipher the food processing techniques that were employed. Th is article off ers a brief introduction regarding the biology of starch grains and the techniques used for their extraction from ancient artifacts. Here, I present some results of several Mesoamerican artifacts, artifacts-ceramics and grinding stones-and try to reconstruct the possible techniques used to elaborate food from a microscopic perspective.
This paper presents the results of a multiproxy approach to the ancillary activities which suppor... more This paper presents the results of a multiproxy approach to the ancillary activities which supported the ancient Maya royal court of the center of La Corona (750–900 CE). This approach sampled both the plaster floors and their overlaying soil matrix from areas of the palace of La Corona, resulting in a data set comprised of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry geochemical, soil‐flotation derived microartifac- tual, and macrobotanical data. These data complemented the architectural and artifactual record, documenting elusive aspects of the economic, ancillary functions of the Northwest Group of the La Corona regal palace. Specifically, this approach revealed that distinct portions of this architectural group were regularly used for preparing foods and craft objects, carrying products and items, discarding ash, using and/or grinding cinnabar‐based pigments, and illuminating nighttime activities. These results not only revealed activity areas in patios, but also provided evidence regarding the functions of adjacent buildings. This paper significantly contributes to our understanding of the pragmatic economic functions of ancient Maya royal courts. In addition, the presented data sets are methodologically valuable for students of archaeological activity areas.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Environmental Science, 2019
Mesoamerica is one of the world’s primary centers of domestication where agriculture arose indepe... more Mesoamerica is one of the world’s primary centers of domestication where agriculture arose independently. Paleoethnobotany (or archaeobotany), along with archaeology, epigraphy, and ethnohistorical and ethnobotanical data, provide increasingly important insights into the ancient agriculture of Lowland Mesoamerica (below 1000 m above sea level). Moreover, new advances in the analysis of microbotanical remains in the form of pollen, phytoliths, and starch-grain analysis and chemical analysis of organic residues have further contributed to our understanding of ancient plant use in this region. Prehistoric and traditional agriculture in the lowlands of Mesoamerica—notably the Maya lowlands, the Gulf Coast, and the Pacific Coast of southern Chiapas (Mexico) and Guatemala—from the Archaic (ca. 8000/7000–2000 bc) through the Preclassic/Formative (2000 bc–ad 250) and into the Classic (ad 250–900) period, are covered. During the late Archaic, these lowland regions were inhabited by people who took full advantage of the rich natural biodiversity but also grew domesticates before becoming fully sedentary. Through time, they developed diverse management strategies to produce food, from the forest management system (which includes swidden agriculture), to larger scale land modifications such as terraces, and continued to rely on semidomesticated and wild plant resources. Although lowland populations came to eventually rely on maize as a staple, other resources such as root crops and fruit trees were also cultivated, encouraged, and consumed. The need for additional research that includes systematic collection of paleoethnobotanical data, along with other lines of evidence, will be key to continue refining the understanding of ancient subsistence systems and how these changed through time and across lowland Mesoamerica.
Numerous taxa within the Solanaceae family are economically important today, and for New World ta... more Numerous taxa within the Solanaceae family are economically important today, and for New World taxa such as chilies and tomatoes, their histories are particularly well documented. What remains less clear, however, is the extent of nightshade used by the ancient Maya. This article reviews the ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and archeological evidence of some of the major taxa in this large family, as well as providing new archeobotanical evidence in the form of macro- and microbotanical remains from Maya sites in northwestern Petén, Guatemala. This new evidence sheds additional light on the Solanaceae used by the ancient Maya in both domestic and ritual contexts. The absence of certain taxa in this family in the archeobotanical record of this region does not necessarily imply that these were not used in the past. Instead, it indicates that systematic collection of samples needs to be implemented if archeologists are to fully characterize past plant use among the ancient Maya.
De 2015 à 2017, les fouilles préventives menées par l’Agence wallonne du Patrimoine à Ath ont mis au jour un site du Néolithique ancien exceptionnel à plus d’un titre. D’abord, il s’agit de la plus vaste occupation de cette période explorée dans la région d’Ath (1,2 ha). Ensuite, il constitue aussi le premier établissement découvert le long du bras oriental de la Dendre. Enfin, le site des « Haleurs » présente surtout la particularité de voir des vestiges des deux cultures du Néolithique ancien, répartis à moins de trois mètres : trois unités d’habitation attribuées au Rubané et deux bâtiments datés du Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint- Germain. Cette spécificité nous a alors permis d’engager une analyse spatiale et morphologique des structures et un examen des activités productives des deux communautés pour apporter un éclairage nouveau sur les relations entretenues entre ces deux implantations du Néolithique ancien. Notre étude démontre de profondes ruptures qui témoignent d’une discontinuité de peuplement entre les deux périodes. On ne peut cependant nier une forme globale de continuité dans la connaissance des environnements propices, dans les répertoires des formes et décors céramiques, dans l’ambiance technique générale ou dans les activités artisanales. Cette double composante alimenterait l’hypothèse d’une transition culturelle caractérisée par un processus endogène qui s’est déroulé en dehors de l’aire géographique étudiée.
Abstract From 2015 to 2017, the preventive excavations carried out by the Walloon Heritage Agency in Ath have brought to light an Early Neolithic site that is exceptional in more ways than one. The village extends over approximately 1.2 ha and, as such, it is the largest village of this period studied in the Ath region. It is the first settlement along the eastern branch of the Dender. The ‘Haleurs’ site has the particularity of seeing the remains of two Early Neolithic cultures cohabiting within three metres of each other: three houses attributed to the LBK and two buildings dated to the Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain. This specificity allowed us to undertake a detailed study of the architecture and productive activities of the two communities in order to shed new light on the relationship between these two Early Neolithic settlements. Our study shows deep breaks that testify to a discontinuity in settlement between the two periods. However, we cannot deny an overall form of continuity in the knowledge of suitable environments, in the repertoires of ceramic forms and decorations, in the general technical atmosphere or in the craft activities. This double component would feed the hypothesis of a cultural transition characterised by an endogenous process that occurred outside the studied geographical area. Keywords: North-Western Europe, Belgium, Early Neolithic, pottery, lithic industry, grinding tools, cultural transition
Maize (Zea mays) was a fundamental part of the diet for the Classic period Maya (ca. 250–900 CE) ... more Maize (Zea mays) was a fundamental part of the diet for the Classic period Maya (ca. 250–900 CE) and other Mesoamerican societies. Nixtamalization, the process whereby maize is cooked in an alkaline solution, is important as it enhances the nutritional value of maize, among other reasons. However, documenting this process in the archaeological record is not straightforward. A microbotanical study of residues collected from ceramic vessels and grinding stones from Late Classic (ca. 600–900 CE) contexts at the Lowland Maya site of La Corona (Peten, Guatemala), revealed the presence of starch spherulites. Their authenticity was confirmed by polarized microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) imaging combined with iodine staining. We argue that nixtamalization as a cooking technique was occurring at La Corona during the 7th and 8th centuries CE. We present evidence from ceremonial contexts, specifically burial and feasting/commensal events. This is the earliest evidence of lime-treated maize in the Maya area recovered directly from ceramic vessels linked to preparation and/or consumption of food.
Despite the extensive literature on the retrieval of digestible starches from archaeological cont... more Despite the extensive literature on the retrieval of digestible starches from archaeological contexts, there are still significant concerns regarding their genuine origin and durability. Here, we propose a multi-analytical strategy to identify the authenticity of ancient starches retrieved from macrolithic tools excavated at Upper Paleolithic sites in the Pontic steppe. This strategy integrates the morphological discrimination of starches through optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy with single starch chemo-profiling using Fourier transform infrared imaging and microscopy. We obtained evidence of aging and biomineralization in the use-related starches from Palaeolithic sites, providing a methodology to establish their ancient origin, assess their preservation status, and attempt their identification. The pivotal application of this multidisciplinary approach demonstrates that the macrolithic tools, from which starches were dislodged, were used for food processing across the Pontic Steppe around 40,000 years ago during the earliest colonization of Eurasia by Homo sapiens.
Underground storage organs are poorly preserved in the archaeological record, and as a result the... more Underground storage organs are poorly preserved in the archaeological record, and as a result their contribution to the diet of ancient societies is poorly understood. Starch grain analysis is a well-established methodology used in archaeology to reveal the use of various plants, including tubers, rhizomes, and roots. This paper presents the results of a study of starch grains recovered from millstones from various archaeological sites located in the Paris Basin. Our results highlight the use of tubers by these first agricultural populations at the beginning of the Neolithic (Linearbandkeramik and Blicquy-Villeneuve-Saint-Germain; 5200-4700 BC), providing new data on their contribution to the diet of agro-pastoral societies.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2022
A multimethod archaeometry study (zooarchaeological, isotopic, ancient DNA, paleobotanical, and r... more A multimethod archaeometry study (zooarchaeological, isotopic, ancient DNA, paleobotanical, and radiocarbon dating) of a spider monkey sacrificed in the ceremonial center of Teotihuacan, Mexico (1 to 550 CE) is interpreted as a diplomatic gift exchange with neighboring Maya. Not only does this spider monkey provide the earliest known instance of primate translocation and captivity in Mesoamerica, it helps date incipient modes of interregional diplomacy between two major powers during Early Classic Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan and the Maya. Details of human–primate interaction include age at capture and transport (before ∼3 y of age), captive duration (over 2 y), anthropogenic diet (staple was maize, though secondary resources unique to anthropogenic diet including arrowroot and chili pepper were also found), context of sacrifice (tethered and associated with complete golden eagle and an array of other statecrafts), and general site context (including presence of Maya vessels and Maya-style murals). The timing of the spider monkey’s sacrifice (250 to 300 CE) and its life history suggest a reconsideration of epigraphically attested militaristic involvement of Teotihuacan at certain Maya sites. We propose that a period of more multilateral and fluid ritual exchange with Maya dignitaries preceded the Teotihuacan state’s eventual ascent to prominence.
Starch grain analysis carried out on 23 ceramic sherds from 6 refuse pits from the site of Nachti... more Starch grain analysis carried out on 23 ceramic sherds from 6 refuse pits from the site of Nachtigal in central Cameroon is shedding light on a longstanding debate regarding ancient diets in Central Africa during the Iron Age (IA, 2500 years BP) but also more recently during the Modern Period (ca. 150 BP). The results indicate a varied, but balanced diet, consisting of cereals, legumes, oil-rich seeds, and tubers; the latter being very rarely documented in the region. Moreover, we underscore the presence of taxa still consumed today, or in recent times. Rescue archaeology, and the application of specialized methodologies, are critical to better nuancing past dietary practices in this region.
A selection of five ground stones from Pontic Steppe sites dating back to the Early Upper Palaeol... more A selection of five ground stones from Pontic Steppe sites dating back to the Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) was used as test-cases to be analysed by combining wear-traces and use-related biogenic residues (U-RBR). The artifacts studied can be termed “legacy” objects, excavated even many decades ago and kept in museum storage facilities. This type of storage might be considered putatively prone to contamination. The multidimensional contextual approach we designed integrates the structural analysis of biogenic residues by means of visual light optical and electronic beams microscopy (OM/VLM and SEM) coupled with FTIR microspectroscopy and imaging (using both conventional and synchrotron infrared sources). SEM and FTIR are meant to provide high resolution morphological and chemical profiles and their coupled analysis revealed the presence of starch grains from the used areas of the stone tools. The goal of this paper is to present a reasoned streamlined procedure to collect appropriate samples suitable to detect the presence of ancient starches from ground stones tools recovered in museum collections.
The recovery of macro- and microbotanicals, along with the study of chemical residues, allows us ... more The recovery of macro- and microbotanicals, along with the study of chemical residues, allows us to shed light on a number of anthropological issues concerning ancient populations. This article reviews the data available to date on the plants used by preceramic peoples during the Archaic period and by the Early to Middle Preclassic Maya across the central Maya lowlands. Archaeobotanical data suggest that early preceramic populations took advantage of their ecologically rich natural environment by gathering a range of wild foods and by cultivating domesticates such as maize, manioc, and chili peppers, a pattern that seemingly continued into the Early to Middle Preclassic, as the Maya settled into village life and left more visible traces of modifications to their natural environment in the form of canals and terraces. This region is of particular interest with regard to the development of sociopolitical complexity, as mobile huntergatherers used domesticates during the millennia that preceded the onset of sedentary life. These early populations set the stage for patterns of plant use that endured through time, but also across space in the Maya region.
Recent advances in the role played by dietary carbohydrates in human food webs during the Palaeol... more Recent advances in the role played by dietary carbohydrates in human food webs during the Palaeolithic highlight that starchy foods were part of the diet well before crop domestication. Although certain plants can be eaten raw, intentional processing such as mechanical reduction using stone tools and thermal treatment readily increases the assimilation of nutrients for metabolic functions and for storing. We present a multi-techniques approach designed to combine micro to nanoscale analyses applied to percussive stones to identify their function using micro-wear traces and use-related biogenic residues. The starch grains extracted from functionally active areas of the ground stone tools were scanned using optical microscopy (OM) down to the nanoscale (SEM) and by applying different spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques like FTIR, ToF-SIMS, and IRMS. The combined analyses carried out at different resolutions – morpho-structural and molecular levels – contribute to an unprecedented methodological refinement regarding the intentional processing of starch- rich plants as early as 40,000 years ago at the boreal latitudes. Our preliminary data on pestles and grinding stones from Early Upper Palaeolithic sites of the Pontic steppe (Moldova and Russia) show the suitability of the analytical techniques involved and also the difficulties encountered in detailing authentication procedures of ancient starch candidates.
While we know that cereals played an important role in the diet of Linearbandkeramik (LBK) and Bl... more While we know that cereals played an important role in the diet of Linearbandkeramik (LBK) and Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain (BVSG) populations in the Paris Basin, many questions remain to be answered as to the real contribution of other plants. To assess this topic, the recovery of other lines of data beyond macrobotanicals is crucial: starch grains have the potential to reveal additional information regarding past plant use. However, in Western Europe, in particular, for the Neolithic period, there is a significant lag in the development of the discipline. We, therefore, present how our current reference collection (composed of nearly 100 taxa spread across 35 families) was established, the reasoning behind our plant selections, and where the material comes from. Overall, our work shows that even though not all the selected plant organs produce diagnostic starch grains, it may be possible to broaden the spectrum of plants likely consumed by Early Neolithic (and beyond) populations in the Paris Basin, in particular concerning the use of wild plants and specific plant parts, especially underground storage organs (tubers, rhizomes, roots, bulbs, etc.). We believe our research will help guide future scholars in the creation of their own starch grain reference collection and to carry out such analyses on archaeological material from this region by consulting our image database. We conclude by providing a brief summary of what the starch grain record in the Paris Basin tells us to date on ancient plant use.
This article reconstructs the final diet of sacrificed domestic camelids from Huanchaquito-Las Ll... more This article reconstructs the final diet of sacrificed domestic camelids from Huanchaquito-Las Llamas to understand whether feeding was part of the ritual practice. The site is situated on the northern coast of Peru and is dated to the fifteenth century AD (Late Intermediate period; LIP). It was used by the Chimús to kill and bury a large number of camelids, mostly juveniles. We reconstructed the final meal of 11 of the sacrificed individuals by analyzing starch grains derived from the associated gut contents and feces. The starch grains were well preserved and allowed for the determination of five plant taxa. The comparison with previously published and new stable isotope analyses, which provide insights into long-term diet, indicates that the Chimús managed their herds by providing maize as fodder and allowing them to graze on natural pasture; yet they reserved special treatment for sacrificial animals, probably bringing them together a few hours or days before the sacri!cial act. We show for the first time the consumption of unusual food products, which included manioc, chili peppers, and beans, as well as cooked foods. Our study provides unique information on Chimú camelid ritual and herding practices.
Food practices have always been a key issue to reconstruct part of the cultural identities of pas... more Food practices have always been a key issue to reconstruct part of the cultural identities of past and present societies. In archaeology, the question of vegetal processing and consumption has generally been discussed through different, yet complementary lenses that include botanical remains and cooking pots. However, it has seldom been integrated in a combined approach. Our paper explores the characteristics and role of plant transformation in Early Neolithic contexts from the Paris Basin (5100–4900 BCE), by combining use-wear analysis of grinding tools and the study of microbotanical remains (starch grains and phytoliths). Our integrated approach reinforces the interpretations and reduces the methodological limitations that arise when each analysis is considered separately. It also proposes a more complex vision than initially expected regarding the uses and lifecycles of grinding tools in daily plant preparation. Together with the dominant processing of cereals and legumes, tubers and rhizomes appear to have been regularly ground on querns. Different steps in plants processing are also evident, such as dehusking, heating, and sprouting. Other clues point towards the transformation of bark and ferns, known for their varied medicinal properties. These results and related methodological issues support discussions regarding the possible conservatism or innovations in vegetal food practices of Early Neolithic farmers inhabiting a region located at the most westerly point of the Linearbandkeramik expansion during the final centuries of this first wave of Neolithic dispersal throughout the European continent.
While culinary practices evolved during the Middle Ages (historically dated between A.D. 476 and ... more While culinary practices evolved during the Middle Ages (historically dated between A.D. 476 and 1492), these changes are difficult to detect as they are seldom studied. Around the 12th and 13th centuries A.D., changes can be seen in the types of utensils and cooking hearths, but also new animal and plant varieties were introduced, along with recipes used by people in the upper echelons of society being put in writing. These novelties could be the result of changing tastes and modes of preparing food, but to ascertain this we need to study the archaeological materials to determine the cooking methods that may have been used and compare these to their context and time period. To this end, experiments were designed and carried out to determine the traces left behind by different cooking methods. Our results have made it possible to create a reference collection consisting of ceramics as well as faunal and botanical remains. The study of cooking traces, as well as the morphological changes visible on botanical elements, in particular starch grains, have allowed us to establish criteria that can be employed in use-wear analysis. We then compared the experimental reference collection with archaeological materials recovered from Couzan, a Medieval site in Forez, France. Our results support the value of using starch grain analysis when studying the function of dark paste ceramics, and clearly demonstrate the interest of bringing together different sub-disciplines in archaeology when using an experimental approach.
Archaeologists have traditionally thought that the development of Maya civilization was gradual, ... more Archaeologists have traditionally thought that the development of Maya civilization was gradual, assuming that small villages began to emerge during the Middle Preclassic period (1000–350 BC; dates are calibrated throughout) along with the use of ceramics and the adoption of sedentism1. Recent finds of early ceremonial complexes are beginning to challenge this model. Here we describe an airborne lidar survey and excavations of the previously unknown site of Aguada Fénix (Tabasco, Mexico) with an artificial plateau, which measures 1,400 m in length and 10 to 15 m in height and has 9 causeways radiating out from it. We dated this construction to between 1000 and 800 BC using a Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates. To our knowledge, this is the oldest monumental construction ever found in the Maya area and the largest in the entire pre-Hispanic history of the region. Although the site exhibits some similarities to the earlier Olmec centre of San Lorenzo, the community of Aguada Fénix probably did not have marked social inequality comparable to that of San Lorenzo. Aguada Fénix and other ceremonial complexes of the same period suggest the importance of communal work in the initial development of Maya civilization.
Direct evidence for the intentional processing of starch-rich plants during the Paleolithic is sc... more Direct evidence for the intentional processing of starch-rich plants during the Paleolithic is scant, and that evidence is often compromised by concerns over preservation and contamination. Our integrated, multimodal approach couples wear-trace analysis with chemical imaging methods to identify the presence of genuine ancient starch candidates (ASC) on ground stones used in the Pontic Steppe starting around 40,000 years ago. Optical and electron microscopy coupled with infrared spectromicroscopy and imaging provide morphological and chemical profiles for ASCs, that partially match the vibrational polysaccharide features of modern reference starches, highlighting diagenetic differences ranging from partial oxidation to mineralization. The results suggest the intentional processing of roots and tubers by means of mechanical tenderization and shed light on the role of dietary carbohydrates during Homo sapiens’ (HS) colonization of Eurasia, demonstrating a long acquaintance with predict...
Desde una perspectiva arqueológica, la recuperación y análisis de granos de almidón-microscópicos... more Desde una perspectiva arqueológica, la recuperación y análisis de granos de almidón-microscópicos gránulos producidos por un gran número de plantas, a través de los cuales es posible identifi car el género o especie de una planta-permiten comprender el uso de las plantas en el pasado. Además de determinar las especies de plantas que fueron consumidas en el pasado, los granos de almidón proporcionan importantes indicios para descifrar las técnicas de elaboración de alimentos que fueron empleadas. Este artículo ofrece una breve introducción respecto a la biología de los granos de almidón y las técnicas utilizadas para su extracción de artefactos antiguos. Además, se presentan los resultados del estudio realizado a varios artefactos mesoamericanos (vasijas y manos de moler) y, asimismo, desde una perspectiva microscópica, se trata de reconstruir las técnicas probablemente utilizadas por antiguas sociedades mesoamericanas para elaborar alimentos.
Abstract: From an archaeological perspective, the recovery and analysis of grains of starch-microscopic granules produced by a large number of plants through which it is possible to identify the genus or species of a plant-allow to understand the use of plants in the past. In addition to determining the plant species that were consumed in the past, starch grains provide important clues to decipher the food processing techniques that were employed. Th is article off ers a brief introduction regarding the biology of starch grains and the techniques used for their extraction from ancient artifacts. Here, I present some results of several Mesoamerican artifacts, artifacts-ceramics and grinding stones-and try to reconstruct the possible techniques used to elaborate food from a microscopic perspective.
This paper presents the results of a multiproxy approach to the ancillary activities which suppor... more This paper presents the results of a multiproxy approach to the ancillary activities which supported the ancient Maya royal court of the center of La Corona (750–900 CE). This approach sampled both the plaster floors and their overlaying soil matrix from areas of the palace of La Corona, resulting in a data set comprised of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry geochemical, soil‐flotation derived microartifac- tual, and macrobotanical data. These data complemented the architectural and artifactual record, documenting elusive aspects of the economic, ancillary functions of the Northwest Group of the La Corona regal palace. Specifically, this approach revealed that distinct portions of this architectural group were regularly used for preparing foods and craft objects, carrying products and items, discarding ash, using and/or grinding cinnabar‐based pigments, and illuminating nighttime activities. These results not only revealed activity areas in patios, but also provided evidence regarding the functions of adjacent buildings. This paper significantly contributes to our understanding of the pragmatic economic functions of ancient Maya royal courts. In addition, the presented data sets are methodologically valuable for students of archaeological activity areas.
Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Environmental Science, 2019
Mesoamerica is one of the world’s primary centers of domestication where agriculture arose indepe... more Mesoamerica is one of the world’s primary centers of domestication where agriculture arose independently. Paleoethnobotany (or archaeobotany), along with archaeology, epigraphy, and ethnohistorical and ethnobotanical data, provide increasingly important insights into the ancient agriculture of Lowland Mesoamerica (below 1000 m above sea level). Moreover, new advances in the analysis of microbotanical remains in the form of pollen, phytoliths, and starch-grain analysis and chemical analysis of organic residues have further contributed to our understanding of ancient plant use in this region. Prehistoric and traditional agriculture in the lowlands of Mesoamerica—notably the Maya lowlands, the Gulf Coast, and the Pacific Coast of southern Chiapas (Mexico) and Guatemala—from the Archaic (ca. 8000/7000–2000 bc) through the Preclassic/Formative (2000 bc–ad 250) and into the Classic (ad 250–900) period, are covered. During the late Archaic, these lowland regions were inhabited by people who took full advantage of the rich natural biodiversity but also grew domesticates before becoming fully sedentary. Through time, they developed diverse management strategies to produce food, from the forest management system (which includes swidden agriculture), to larger scale land modifications such as terraces, and continued to rely on semidomesticated and wild plant resources. Although lowland populations came to eventually rely on maize as a staple, other resources such as root crops and fruit trees were also cultivated, encouraged, and consumed. The need for additional research that includes systematic collection of paleoethnobotanical data, along with other lines of evidence, will be key to continue refining the understanding of ancient subsistence systems and how these changed through time and across lowland Mesoamerica.
Numerous taxa within the Solanaceae family are economically important today, and for New World ta... more Numerous taxa within the Solanaceae family are economically important today, and for New World taxa such as chilies and tomatoes, their histories are particularly well documented. What remains less clear, however, is the extent of nightshade used by the ancient Maya. This article reviews the ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and archeological evidence of some of the major taxa in this large family, as well as providing new archeobotanical evidence in the form of macro- and microbotanical remains from Maya sites in northwestern Petén, Guatemala. This new evidence sheds additional light on the Solanaceae used by the ancient Maya in both domestic and ritual contexts. The absence of certain taxa in this family in the archeobotanical record of this region does not necessarily imply that these were not used in the past. Instead, it indicates that systematic collection of samples needs to be implemented if archeologists are to fully characterize past plant use among the ancient Maya.
This chapter presents the results of the macro- and microbotanical analyses carried out on flotat... more This chapter presents the results of the macro- and microbotanical analyses carried out on flotation samples and artifacts (ceramic sherds and grinding stones) collected during excavations carried out by the PCC archaeological project, Teotihuacan, Mexico.
This chapter presents the preliminary results of the macrobotanical analysis carried out on flota... more This chapter presents the preliminary results of the macrobotanical analysis carried out on flotation samples collected during excavations carried out by the PCC archaeological project, Teotihuacan, Mexico.
Archaeological investigations in the Maya region abound, yet there is much that we do not know re... more Archaeological investigations in the Maya region abound, yet there is much that we do not know regarding the use of plants in both the domestic and ritual sphere. This study focuses on ancient plant use at La Corona and El Peru-Waka’, two sites in northwestern Petén, Guatemala, occupied during the Late Classic and Terminal Classic (ca. A.D. 600-950). I utilized macro- and microbotanical data to shed light on the diets and ritual activities of ancient people living at these sites. Specifically, I consider what plants were consumed at the household level and which were utilized in the ritual sphere to prepare dishes and beverages for elaborate feasts and to metaphorically feed divinities. To further elucidate the archaeobotanical data, ethnographic, ethnohistoric, and iconographic sources of information were also consulted. Three main archaeological contexts were considered for analysis: a monumental fire shrine at El Peru-Waka’; two feasting deposits at La Corona; and a Terminal Classic household at La Corona. The first context, an eighth century A.D. monumental fire shrine or Wite Naah, was discovered on the frontal platform (adosada) of Structure M13-1 at El Peru-Waka’. I interpret the charred plant remains and other materials recovered from this giant hearth as evidence for agricultural-themed fire ceremonies. These rituals were likely influenced by the arrival of Siyakh K’ahk from Teotihuacan in the late fourth century A.D., and persisted for centuries until the end of dynastic rule at the site. This study lends support to the idea that pan-Mesoamerican rituals of fire existed, and continue to exist among indigenous populations. The second context consists of two Late Classic feasting deposits that were identified within the ceremonial core of La Corona. The first deposit, recovered inside a chultun, is closely associated with Structure 13R-10, while the second was a midden adjacent to Structure 13R-7. Macro- and microbotanical data provided clues to the types of foods and beverages served and consumed during these events, one of which was likely a large-scale, community-wide feast. Based on the types of plant remains recovered, I argue that the nature of feasting or the value attributed to some plant taxa by the ancient Maya, especially with regards to edible greens, may need to be reconsidered. Finally, evidence of occupation during the Terminal Classic, a period that is equated with large-scale abandonment and social collapse, suggests that the inhabitants had access to a range of plant foods similar to those available in the Late Classic. I argue that the recovery of diverse root crops in starch grain form suggests that tubers were not famine foods but rather played a more prominent role in the ancient Maya diet. Finally, this research provides the first data on environmental reconstruction at La Corona during the Terminal Classic. The study of these diverse contexts brings attention to the fact that plant remains, both macro- and microbotanical, can be successfully recovered from this area of the Maya region, and provides evidence for previously unreported taxa in the area. It further demonstrates the existence of complex relations between ancient Maya people and their natural environment: a landscape of vast ecological variability and resource availability. When carefully considered, these data serve to further elucidate the nuances of ancient ritual practices and contribute to the ongoing discourse regarding the range of foods consumed by the ancient Maya even in times of possible social and environmental stress.
This database contains images of starch grains collected from modern plant species. The aim is to... more This database contains images of starch grains collected from modern plant species. The aim is to create a database that scholars can consult, and also a place where starch-grain research can expand.
Images in the collection currently include native plants from Mesoamerica, Oceania, China, and West Africa. Photos of damaged grains (mechanical or heat) are also included whenever possible. Photos have been taken under polarized light (labeled "polarized" or "PL"), transmitted light (labeled as "transmitted" or "TL"), or using differential interference contrast (DIC).
If you're interested in submitting photos from your own research (i.e. reference collection) to include on this page, please contact me. You'll receive full credits for your images, and photos can be linked to your email, project website, etc.
As usual, I appreciate any feedback, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to use these images for your research or interest, but I would appreciate if you could kindly cite the website and/or the photographer in your work. Thank you! ¡Gracias!
The families of plants currently in the database: Araceae, Bixaceae, Convolvuvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Cycadaceae, Cyperaceae, Dioscoraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Heliconiaceae, Juncaceae, Malvaceae, Marantaceae, Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, and Typhaceae.
Food is a powerful medium through which identities are structured and maintained, and we argue th... more Food is a powerful medium through which identities are structured and maintained, and we argue that this incorporation of foreign plant foods was perhaps another way to negotiate the place of the Maya dignitaries in a changing social-political landscape. Similarly to today, people in the past moved, and with them their ideas and their material culture. However, seeing these movements across the landscape can be trickier for perishable materials. Fortunately, using different lines of evidence, it is possible to reconstruct in some cases the movement of plants but also people and animals. Recent investigations at the Plaza of the Columns Complex at the heart of the ceremonial precinct of Teotihuacan (Mexico) have revealed the presence of Maya elites that probably resided here during the Early Classic (3rd-4th centuries CE), pre-dating the Entrada, a historic event in Mesoamerican history. These elites likely participated in the early construction of this monumental city and in the rituals associated to rulership. In this paper we focus on a 4th century monumental feasting deposit (cache) within the Plaza of the Columns Complex, where thousands of ceramic sherds (both local and Maya style) as well as animal and plant remains, have been recovered. The rich botanical assemblage recovered thus far indicate the presence of local but also non-local plant resources (more frequently associated with the Maya) probably imported from beyond the Teotihuacan Valley.
STARCH: at the origins of starch food diet. SR-FTIR and SEM applied to Palaeolithic Grinding Ston... more STARCH: at the origins of starch food diet. SR-FTIR and SEM applied to Palaeolithic Grinding Stones from the Pontic area. G. Biranda, L. Vaccari, N. Cefarin, C. Cagnato, I. Pantyukhina, N. Skakun, C. Lubritto, G. Sorrentino, Laura Longo
The advent of dietary carbohydrates as human staple food was a breakthrough. However, perishable plant-food remains (e.g. starch) are poorly represented in the archaeological record, and the role played by vegetable food processing has only recently been reconsidered. Evidences from our research on grinding stones retrieved in MIS 3 sites are challenging the mainstream model of the so- called Neolithic Revolution. Plants rich in starch, like roots and tubers, were processed into flour by means of grinding and pounding stone tools. Preliminary results are showing that use-related biogenic residues such as starch granules can be extracted and characterized with cutting-edge analytical protocols combining optical and FE-SEM microscopy (low vacuum) coupled with micro and nano-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with the high brightness of synchrotron radiation (SR). Use-related starch granules, extracted from grinding stones retrieved from Pontic Steppe Early Upper Palaeolithic sites, have been morphologically identified and SEM micrographs show the lamellar structure (amylose and amylopectin). Those features were targeted by FTIR analysis and the spectral feature of amylopectin was detected, even though possibly degraded (Figure 1). The spectra of archaeological starches were compared with those obtained from modern starches (red potato). New data from the on-going beamtime, strengthening the putative hypothesis, will be presented during the workshop. The research reveals twofold outcomes: (i) it demonstrates the suitability of high-hand large infrastructure to be applied to archaeological materials; (ii) it sheds light on the introduction of dietary carbohydrates in Homo sapiens nutritional strategies, occurring at least around 40,000 ka around the Black Sea area. Finally, it proves that STEMs and Humanities can be positively merged to solve relevant issues in humans’ dietary adaptation according to the colonized niches. Moreover, investigating the “Starch Food Niche” in an evolutionary perspective brings revelatory keys on the origins of contemporary mismatch which is at the base of diseases related to starchy food (metabolic syndrome) highlighting the relevance of investigating our past to understand our present and to plan future sustainable strategies.
Starch grain analysis is a well-established methodology used in archaeology to address issues rel... more Starch grain analysis is a well-established methodology used in archaeology to address issues related to the exploitation of plants and food in the past. Although widely used in certain parts of the world, material from Early Neolithic sites (Linearbandkeramik and Blicquy-Villeneuve-Saint-Germain; 5200-4700 BC) in north-western Europe, and more specifically those located in the Paris Basin, have yet to be systematically studied. This communication presents results recovered from both grinding stones and ceramics from various sites across this area (e.g., Menneville, Ath, Loison-sous-Lens). This research will thus be able to address not only issues related to food selection (cereals, tubers), or processing and preparation techniques (grinding, cooking), but also regarding the function of various tools. By considering data obtained from other archaeobotanical remains, and from other disciplines such as use-wear analysis, and chemical analyses of residues in vases, the data obtained through the study of starches could complement or even modify the vision we currently have of the dietary practices of the first agricultural populations in north-western Europe.
Les pratiques culinaires évoluent durant le Moyen âge, mais il est difficile de percevoir les dét... more Les pratiques culinaires évoluent durant le Moyen âge, mais il est difficile de percevoir les détails de ces évolutions, encore peu étudiés. Les ustensiles et les foyers changent, de nouvelles variétés animales et végétales sont introduites. Cela pourrait être mis en relation avec des changements de goûts et de recettes. Pour le savoir, il nous faut pouvoir déterminer sur le matériel archéologique les modes de cuisson ayant été utilisés et comparer leur usage selon les contextes et le temps. C’est dans ce but qu’a été réalisée une expérimentation visant à caractériser les stigmates de différents modes de cuisson. Les résultats ont permis de créer des référentiels pour la céramique, le matériel osseux animal et les restes végétaux. La céramique, en particulier, a pu être comparée aux restes archéologiques ; l’étude des traces de cuisson ayant livré récemment ses premiers résultats. La démarche sera présentée – de la question à ces premières réponses – montrant tout l'intérêt de l’approche expérimentale dans ce cadre d'étude.
Grinding techniques constitute a major indicator of food preparation practices among Prehistoric ... more Grinding techniques constitute a major indicator of food preparation practices among Prehistoric societies, especially those related to the transition from hunting-gathering to agricultural economies. Combining archaeobotany with a functional analysis of grinding tools permits us to evaluate the contribution of vegetal resources to food preparation practices of Mesolithic and Early Neolithic populations in north-western Europe. Focusing on different grinding systems from settlement contexts in the Paris Basin, we explore the respective contribution and limitations of use-wear and microresidues analysis, in relation to taphonomic issues and sampling strategies. This analysis is possible due to our creation of a unique starch grain reference collection specific to temperate Europe. Our experimental approach thus sheds new light on the exploitation of vegetal resources, especially those aspects that remain unidentifiable when using other approaches. We advocate a rigorous multidisciplinary approach for the reconstruction of the role of grinding techniques in foodways to explore the major economic and technological shifts that affected Mesolithic/Neolithic societies.
Paleoethnobotanical analyses provide significant information regarding past human behaviors, whic... more Paleoethnobotanical analyses provide significant information regarding past human behaviors, which include the selection, production, and consumption of plant resources, among others. This paper focuses on select archaeological contexts, domestic and ritual in nature, which have been investigated from a paleoethnobotanical perspective at the urban center of Teotihuacan, and more specifically in the area known as the Plaza of the Columns Complex. The recovery of macrobotanicals such as maize (Zea mays), amaranth (Amaranthus sp.), and tobacco (Nicotiana sp.), as well as starch grains belonging to chili peppers (Capsicum sp.) and manioc (Manihot esculenta) among others, indicates not only a wide range of plant taxa utilization, but also that the inhabitants of this particular sector of Teotihuacan had access to a variety of plants resources from both local and possibly more distant landscapes. These new data will be briefly compared and contrasted to those obtained by previous investigations, in particular to the well-studied apartment compounds situated in different parts of the city.
The ancient Maya are known to have carried out a multitude of rituals that involved the use of fi... more The ancient Maya are known to have carried out a multitude of rituals that involved the use of fire to burn plants as offerings to the gods. In turn, the gods ensured successful harvests and the continuity of time. In this paper, the results of an anthracological study— the identification of wood charcoal based on its anatomical structure— from a unique context, an eighth century A.D. fire shrine associated with this site’s central civic-ceremonial structure in the heart of the site of El Peru-Waka’ in northwestern Petén, Guatemala, are presented. Fortuitously, some of the fire shrine samples also yielded carbonized painted wood fragments, which suggest that decorated objects were also burnt during these rituals. Preliminary assessment of these analyses indicates that wood pertaining to both hardwood and softwood tree species were placed in the fire shrine, either as fuel or in the form of objects that may have been ritually important. To contextualize these data, I will discuss the ecology of the tree species recovered in the fire shrine, the potential reasons that the ancient Maya may have had for choosing these taxa, and will compare these data with other anthracological studies carried out in the Maya region. Finally, I will also consider ethnobotanical studies carried out in this region, including the rituals and ceremonies performed by the present-day Maya. These archaeobotanical data further our comprehension of ancient Maya rituals and their views towards their rich natural environment.
Structure M13-1, a major civic-ceremonial building at the center of the Classic Maya city El Perú... more Structure M13-1, a major civic-ceremonial building at the center of the Classic Maya city El Perú-Waka’ in northwestern Petén, Guatemala, held special significance to its citizenry. While it was likely ritually significant since the Early Classic period, evidence indicates it was the focus of sustained and repeated ceremonial acts of likely varying scales, accouterment, and practitioners throughout the Late and Terminal Classic periods (circa A.D. 600-900). In this paper, we explore data from recent paleoethnobotanical analyses pertaining to numerous archaeologically documented contexts revealing that plant remains were among the offerings in various of these ritualized contexts. . The contexts in question date to the Late Classic period and include a subterranean chamber, a fire shrine, and the tomb of the Late Classic Queen Lady K’abel. Even after El Perú-Waka’s royal court declined in the early 9th century A.D., Wakeños continued to ritually engage Structure M13-1, blanketing the structure in a variety of offerings ranging from gargantuan stelae fragments to now nearly imperceptible plant remains. Paleoethnobotanical evidence, in conjunction with other archaeological data, provides key information regarding ancient ritual practices in the Maya region, in this case shedding light on how the Maya metaphorically fed this particular structure.
Ritual feasting was an integral part of ancient societies; the Maya were no exception. Archaeolog... more Ritual feasting was an integral part of ancient societies; the Maya were no exception. Archaeologists working in this region have used various lines of evidence, including the study of beautifully painted polychrome drinking vases and reading ethnohistoric sources written by Spanish colonists, to attempt reconstructing ancient Maya feasts. Thus, while feasting deposits have been identified across sites in the Maya world, few have been studied from an archaeobotanical perspective. In this paper, I present macro- and microbotanical results from two Late Classic feasting (A.D. 600-900) deposits from the site of La Corona, located in northwestern Petén, Guatemala.
To reconstruct the meals that participants may have enjoyed in the past I consider the plant remains but also the other cultural materials that were also part of the feasting deposits, as “people do not eat species, they eat meals” Sherratt (1991:221). Based on the ceramic attributes, as well as the faunal and botanical data, I argue that while the sounds of music—drums and whistles— played in the background, and aromatic resins and flowers burned in censers, participants were served sweet and spicy foods and drinks, made from ingredients collected from wild and domestic landscapes. The senses of those attending these feasts were further stimulated, as mind-altering plants may have also been part of the menu.
These results suggest that ancient Maya feasts were events that cannot be simply recreated through painted ceramic vases or from reading historic records. If we are to appreciate the nuances of ancient Maya feasts the archaeobotanical record needs to be further evaluated. Studies whereby ancient plant remains are considered with other lines of evidence render the past more vibrant, bringing to life the smells, sounds, and tastes of the past.
The discovery of a fire shrine atop the adosada of Structure M13-1 at El Perú-Waka’ supports the ... more The discovery of a fire shrine atop the adosada of Structure M13-1 at El Perú-Waka’ supports the archaeological and epigraphic records which have at various places in the Maya region (including Waka’) made reference to the arrival in AD 378 of Siyaj K’ak’. This event resulted in the introduction of the fire shrine cult, glossed as Wite Naah in Mayan, from Teotihuacan to the Maya Lowlands. M13-1’s cal AD 7th century fire shrine is the final phase of the main temple’s fronting platform. Careful collection of soil samples and the subsequent archaeobotanical analysis makes this context unique as no other such fire shrines have been fully sampled for plant remains. These new data provide additional avenues for exploring rituals carried out at these fire shrines. The plant remains, understood as offerings to the gods, include wood, diverse types of seeds, flowers, and incense, and reflect a special concern with themes of fertility, water, and agricultural abundance. This unique deposit provides new insights into the ritual use of plants among the ancient Maya; activities that continue today.
Today, plants in the Solanaceae family are economically important to a large number of people aro... more Today, plants in the Solanaceae family are economically important to a large number of people around the world. However, in places such as Central America where the diversity of nightshades is especially high, the ancient use of species within this family is not well documented. Particularly, nightshade plant use by the ancient Maya is poorly understood. In this paper, I present new archaeobotanical data in the form of macrobotanical remains and starch grains recovered from Classic period (AD 250-900) ancient Maya archaeological sites in northwestern Petén, Guatemala. These data indicate that the ancient Maya used a variety of nightshades in both domestic and ritual contexts. Insights garnered from this research may provide botanists with new insights regarding the distribution and diversity of the Solanaceae family within this specific geographical area.
Los antiguos habitantes de La Corona explotaron una diversidad de especies de plantas y animales ... more Los antiguos habitantes de La Corona explotaron una diversidad de especies de plantas y animales en sus vidas cotidianas. La integración de estudios paleo-etnobotánicos y de fauna en las investigaciones de La Corona ha proporcionado datos importantes y útiles para la interpretación del sitio. En esta ponencia se presentan los análisis derestos macrobotánicos (semillas, madera, etc.) y microbotánicos (granos de almidón), así como el uso amplio de fauna local y también ajena al sitio.
Investigations at El Guayabal and Las Orquídeas in the El Paraíso valley confirm the time depth a... more Investigations at El Guayabal and Las Orquídeas in the El Paraíso valley confirm the time depth and extent of the valley’s settlement. Ceramic analysis indicates both sites were strongly tied to the ceramic traditions of the region and confirms valley occupation dating to as early as the Middle Preclassic. It appears that the Preclassic period was dominated by El Guayabal—a site that includes the largest earthen structure in the Copan region. However, Late Preclassic settlement in the valley was also characterized by smaller sites, like Las Orquídeas, similar to sites located throughout the southeastern Maya area.
Starch grain analysis is a well-established methodology used in archeology to address issues rela... more Starch grain analysis is a well-established methodology used in archeology to address issues related to the exploitation of plants and food in the past. Although widely used in certain parts of the world, material from Early Neolithic sites in north-western Europe (around 5200-4700 BC), and more specifically those located in the Paris Basin, have yet to be systematically studied. This poster presents preliminary data recovered from both grinding stones and ceramics from various sites across this area (e.g., Menneville, Ath, Loison-sous-Lens). This research will thus be able to not only address issues related to food processing and preparation, but also regarding the function of various tools. By considering data obtained from other archaeobotanical remains, and from other disciplines such as use-wear and chemical analyzes of residues in vases, the data obtained through the study of starches could complement or even modify the vision we currently have on the dietary practices of the first agricultural populations in north-western Europe.
Mémoires de la Société Préhistorique Française, 2023
Le site néolithique ancien de Verson « les Mesnils » est situé dans la Plaine de Caen (Calvados),... more Le site néolithique ancien de Verson « les Mesnils » est situé dans la Plaine de Caen (Calvados), en Normandie occidentale. Il a été fouillé lors d'une opération d'archéologie préventive conduite en 2012, qui a permis pour la première fois dans la région, d'étudier un hameau de l'étape moyenne de la culture de Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain (BVSG). Formé de cinq maisons, il a été occupé en trois phases entre 5010 et 4830 av. notre ère, soit sur une durée d'environ 180 ans. A l'instar des sites d'habitat régionaux de cette période, il est localisé en contexte de plateau et implanté sur des pédo-sédiments d'origine loessique, ce qui a limité sa conservation. Les vestiges rencontrés se composent de plusieurs séries de grandes fosses, vingt-huit au total, dont l'organisation spatiale renvoie clairement à celles de fosses latérales des maisons de tradition danubienne, bien que les trous d'ancrage des poteaux ne soient pas lisibles. Les remplissages de ces structures ont livré un mobilier à vocation domestique dans des quantités et un état de conservation remarquables et inédits pour la Normandie occidentale. Leur analyse livre de nombreuses données sur la culture matérielle encore peu renseignée des néolithiques BVSG de cette partie de l'ouest de France. Les résultats de ces études combinées aux analyses menées sur les comblements de ces fosses (stratigraphique, micromorphologie et macrorestes végétaux), ont par ailleurs permis une étude de la nature et de la distribution des activités domestiques au sein des unités d'habitation de ce hameau. Cette répartition est analogue à celles généralement observées sur les sites dont des plans des bâtiments sont conservés. De nombreuses informations sur l'usage des fosses latérales ont aussi été obtenues grâce aux analyses. Elles indiquent qu'elles font partie intégrante du fonctionnement des maisons danubiennes et certaines pourraient aussi avoir des utilisations spécifiques, tandis que la plupart présente des traces de curage et de piétinements indiquant une probable gestion des déchets par les habitants du hameau. L'environnement et son exploitation par les néolithiques est une autre question qui a pu aussi être abordée par ces études.
Finalement, au regard de la forme de leur habitat et des vestiges mobiliers, en particulier des deux marqueurs de la culture BVSG que sont les lames en silex et les parures, l'analyse du site révèle que les néolithiques de Verson « les Mesnils » entretenaient de nombreux liens avec d'autres populations de la sphère BVSG. Ils pourraient même avoir joué un rôle dans la diffusion de ces objets.
The Early Neolithic site of Verson « Les Mesnils » was the object of a pre-development excavation carried out in 2012 on the Caen plain (Calvados), in western Normandy. We were able to study a small settlement dating to the middle phase of the Bliquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain culture (BVSG) for the first time in the region. It was composed of five houses occupied for a duration of about 180 years between 5010 and 4830 B.C, in three different phases. As is the case for corresponding habitat sites in the region, it is situated in a plateau context, implanted on pedosediments of loessic origin, which has limited it's conservation. The features consist of twenty eight large pits spatially organised in several series, clearly corresponding to the lateral pits of long houses of Danubian tradition, although post holes were no longer visible. The fill of these pits yielded abundant, well preserved domestic artefacts, some unprecedented, quite remarkable for western Normandy. Their study has provided data on the hitherto poorly documented material culture of the BVSG Neolithic peoples in this part of Western France. The results, combined with those of analyses carried out on the pit fills (stratigraphy, micromorphology, macrobotanical remains), has also enabled us to examine the nature and the spatial organisation of domestic activities within the dwelling units of this hamlet. The distribution pattern corresponds to those usually observed on sites for which the building plans are preserved. A lot of information on the use of the pits have been gleaned, showing that they were an integral part of the daily use of the danubian houses. Some of them may have had specific functions, whereas others show evidence of having been cleaned out and trampling, pointing to their probable use for waste mangement by the people living there. The environment and how Neolithic peoples made use of it is another question we were able to approach.
All in all, taking into account the form of the habitat and the artefacts discovered, particularly the two BVSG cultural markers, flint blades and personal ornaments, the site study reveals many links between the inhabitants at Verson « Les Mesnils » and other populations within the BVSG sphere. They may even have played a role in the diffusion of these objects.
Discover how archaeologists have reconstructed ancient Maya diets from vases and charred seeds. W... more Discover how archaeologists have reconstructed ancient Maya diets from vases and charred seeds. Why not use it as inspiration for your own recipes?
Découvrez comment, à partir de vases et de graines carbonisées, les archéologues reconstituent l'alimentation des Mayas. Pourquoi ne pas vous en inspirer pour vos recettes personnelles ?
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Papers by Clarissa Cagnato
De 2015 à 2017, les fouilles préventives menées par l’Agence wallonne du Patrimoine à Ath ont mis au jour un site du Néolithique
ancien exceptionnel à plus d’un titre. D’abord, il s’agit de la plus vaste occupation de cette période explorée dans la
région d’Ath (1,2 ha). Ensuite, il constitue aussi le premier établissement découvert le long du bras oriental de la Dendre. Enfin,
le site des « Haleurs » présente surtout la particularité de voir des vestiges des deux cultures du Néolithique ancien, répartis
à moins de trois mètres : trois unités d’habitation attribuées au Rubané et deux bâtiments datés du Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-
Germain. Cette spécificité nous a alors permis d’engager une analyse spatiale et morphologique des structures et un examen
des activités productives des deux communautés pour apporter un éclairage nouveau sur les relations entretenues entre ces
deux implantations du Néolithique ancien. Notre étude démontre de profondes ruptures qui témoignent d’une discontinuité
de peuplement entre les deux périodes. On ne peut cependant nier une forme globale de continuité dans la connaissance
des environnements propices, dans les répertoires des formes et décors céramiques, dans l’ambiance technique générale ou
dans les activités artisanales. Cette double composante alimenterait l’hypothèse d’une transition culturelle caractérisée par un
processus endogène qui s’est déroulé en dehors de l’aire géographique étudiée.
Abstract
From 2015 to 2017, the preventive excavations carried out by the Walloon Heritage Agency in Ath have brought to light an Early
Neolithic site that is exceptional in more ways than one. The village extends over approximately 1.2 ha and, as such, it is the largest
village of this period studied in the Ath region. It is the first settlement along the eastern branch of the Dender. The ‘Haleurs’ site
has the particularity of seeing the remains of two Early Neolithic cultures cohabiting within three metres of each other: three
houses attributed to the LBK and two buildings dated to the Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain. This specificity allowed us to undertake
a detailed study of the architecture and productive activities of the two communities in order to shed new light on the relationship
between these two Early Neolithic settlements. Our study shows deep breaks that testify to a discontinuity in settlement
between the two periods. However, we cannot deny an overall form of continuity in the knowledge of suitable environments, in
the repertoires of ceramic forms and decorations, in the general technical atmosphere or in the craft activities. This double component
would feed the hypothesis of a cultural transition characterised by an endogenous process that occurred outside the studied
geographical area.
Keywords: North-Western Europe, Belgium, Early Neolithic, pottery, lithic industry, grinding tools, cultural transition
include age at capture and transport (before ∼3 y of age), captive duration (over 2 y), anthropogenic diet (staple was maize, though secondary resources unique to anthropogenic diet including arrowroot and chili pepper were also found), context of sacrifice (tethered and associated with complete golden eagle and an array of other statecrafts), and general site context (including presence of Maya vessels and Maya-style murals).
The timing of the spider monkey’s sacrifice (250 to 300 CE) and its life history suggest a reconsideration of epigraphically attested militaristic involvement of Teotihuacan at certain Maya sites. We propose that a period of more multilateral and fluid ritual exchange with Maya dignitaries preceded the Teotihuacan state’s eventual ascent to prominence.
analysis of grinding tools and the study of microbotanical remains (starch grains and phytoliths). Our integrated approach reinforces the interpretations and reduces the methodological limitations that arise when each analysis is considered separately. It also proposes a more complex vision than initially expected regarding the uses and lifecycles of grinding tools in daily plant preparation. Together with the dominant processing of cereals and legumes, tubers and rhizomes appear to have been regularly ground on querns. Different steps in plants processing are also evident, such as dehusking, heating, and sprouting. Other clues point towards the transformation of bark and ferns, known for their varied medicinal properties. These results and related methodological issues support discussions regarding the possible conservatism or innovations in vegetal food practices of Early Neolithic farmers inhabiting a region located at the most westerly point of the Linearbandkeramik expansion during the final centuries of this first wave of Neolithic dispersal throughout the European continent.
Abstract: From an archaeological perspective, the recovery and analysis of grains of starch-microscopic granules produced by a large number of plants through which it is possible to identify the genus or species of a plant-allow to understand the use of plants in the past. In addition to determining the plant species that were consumed in the past, starch grains provide important clues to decipher the food processing techniques that were employed. Th is article off ers a brief introduction regarding the biology of starch grains and the techniques used for their extraction from ancient artifacts. Here, I present some results of several Mesoamerican artifacts, artifacts-ceramics and grinding stones-and try to reconstruct the possible techniques used to elaborate food from a microscopic perspective.
De 2015 à 2017, les fouilles préventives menées par l’Agence wallonne du Patrimoine à Ath ont mis au jour un site du Néolithique
ancien exceptionnel à plus d’un titre. D’abord, il s’agit de la plus vaste occupation de cette période explorée dans la
région d’Ath (1,2 ha). Ensuite, il constitue aussi le premier établissement découvert le long du bras oriental de la Dendre. Enfin,
le site des « Haleurs » présente surtout la particularité de voir des vestiges des deux cultures du Néolithique ancien, répartis
à moins de trois mètres : trois unités d’habitation attribuées au Rubané et deux bâtiments datés du Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-
Germain. Cette spécificité nous a alors permis d’engager une analyse spatiale et morphologique des structures et un examen
des activités productives des deux communautés pour apporter un éclairage nouveau sur les relations entretenues entre ces
deux implantations du Néolithique ancien. Notre étude démontre de profondes ruptures qui témoignent d’une discontinuité
de peuplement entre les deux périodes. On ne peut cependant nier une forme globale de continuité dans la connaissance
des environnements propices, dans les répertoires des formes et décors céramiques, dans l’ambiance technique générale ou
dans les activités artisanales. Cette double composante alimenterait l’hypothèse d’une transition culturelle caractérisée par un
processus endogène qui s’est déroulé en dehors de l’aire géographique étudiée.
Abstract
From 2015 to 2017, the preventive excavations carried out by the Walloon Heritage Agency in Ath have brought to light an Early
Neolithic site that is exceptional in more ways than one. The village extends over approximately 1.2 ha and, as such, it is the largest
village of this period studied in the Ath region. It is the first settlement along the eastern branch of the Dender. The ‘Haleurs’ site
has the particularity of seeing the remains of two Early Neolithic cultures cohabiting within three metres of each other: three
houses attributed to the LBK and two buildings dated to the Blicquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain. This specificity allowed us to undertake
a detailed study of the architecture and productive activities of the two communities in order to shed new light on the relationship
between these two Early Neolithic settlements. Our study shows deep breaks that testify to a discontinuity in settlement
between the two periods. However, we cannot deny an overall form of continuity in the knowledge of suitable environments, in
the repertoires of ceramic forms and decorations, in the general technical atmosphere or in the craft activities. This double component
would feed the hypothesis of a cultural transition characterised by an endogenous process that occurred outside the studied
geographical area.
Keywords: North-Western Europe, Belgium, Early Neolithic, pottery, lithic industry, grinding tools, cultural transition
include age at capture and transport (before ∼3 y of age), captive duration (over 2 y), anthropogenic diet (staple was maize, though secondary resources unique to anthropogenic diet including arrowroot and chili pepper were also found), context of sacrifice (tethered and associated with complete golden eagle and an array of other statecrafts), and general site context (including presence of Maya vessels and Maya-style murals).
The timing of the spider monkey’s sacrifice (250 to 300 CE) and its life history suggest a reconsideration of epigraphically attested militaristic involvement of Teotihuacan at certain Maya sites. We propose that a period of more multilateral and fluid ritual exchange with Maya dignitaries preceded the Teotihuacan state’s eventual ascent to prominence.
analysis of grinding tools and the study of microbotanical remains (starch grains and phytoliths). Our integrated approach reinforces the interpretations and reduces the methodological limitations that arise when each analysis is considered separately. It also proposes a more complex vision than initially expected regarding the uses and lifecycles of grinding tools in daily plant preparation. Together with the dominant processing of cereals and legumes, tubers and rhizomes appear to have been regularly ground on querns. Different steps in plants processing are also evident, such as dehusking, heating, and sprouting. Other clues point towards the transformation of bark and ferns, known for their varied medicinal properties. These results and related methodological issues support discussions regarding the possible conservatism or innovations in vegetal food practices of Early Neolithic farmers inhabiting a region located at the most westerly point of the Linearbandkeramik expansion during the final centuries of this first wave of Neolithic dispersal throughout the European continent.
Abstract: From an archaeological perspective, the recovery and analysis of grains of starch-microscopic granules produced by a large number of plants through which it is possible to identify the genus or species of a plant-allow to understand the use of plants in the past. In addition to determining the plant species that were consumed in the past, starch grains provide important clues to decipher the food processing techniques that were employed. Th is article off ers a brief introduction regarding the biology of starch grains and the techniques used for their extraction from ancient artifacts. Here, I present some results of several Mesoamerican artifacts, artifacts-ceramics and grinding stones-and try to reconstruct the possible techniques used to elaborate food from a microscopic perspective.
The first context, an eighth century A.D. monumental fire shrine or Wite Naah, was discovered on the frontal platform (adosada) of Structure M13-1 at El Peru-Waka’. I interpret the charred plant remains and other materials recovered from this giant hearth as evidence for agricultural-themed fire ceremonies. These rituals were likely influenced by the arrival of Siyakh K’ahk from Teotihuacan in the late fourth century A.D., and persisted for centuries until the end of dynastic rule at the site. This study lends support to the idea that pan-Mesoamerican rituals of fire existed, and continue to exist among indigenous populations.
The second context consists of two Late Classic feasting deposits that were identified within the ceremonial core of La Corona. The first deposit, recovered inside a chultun, is closely associated with Structure 13R-10, while the second was a midden adjacent to Structure 13R-7. Macro- and microbotanical data provided clues to the types of foods and beverages served and consumed during these events, one of which was likely a large-scale, community-wide feast. Based on the types of plant remains recovered, I argue that the nature of feasting or the value attributed to some plant taxa by the ancient Maya, especially with regards to edible greens, may need to be reconsidered.
Finally, evidence of occupation during the Terminal Classic, a period that is equated with large-scale abandonment and social collapse, suggests that the inhabitants had access to a range of plant foods similar to those available in the Late Classic. I argue that the recovery of diverse root crops in starch grain form suggests that tubers were not famine foods but rather played a more prominent role in the ancient Maya diet. Finally, this research provides the first data on environmental reconstruction at La Corona during the Terminal Classic.
The study of these diverse contexts brings attention to the fact that plant remains, both macro- and microbotanical, can be successfully recovered from this area of the Maya region, and provides evidence for previously unreported taxa in the area. It further demonstrates the existence of complex relations between ancient Maya people and their natural environment: a landscape of vast ecological variability and resource availability. When carefully considered, these data serve to further elucidate the nuances of ancient ritual practices and contribute to the ongoing discourse regarding the range of foods consumed by the ancient Maya even in times of possible social and environmental stress.
Images in the collection currently include native plants from Mesoamerica, Oceania, China, and West Africa. Photos of damaged grains (mechanical or heat) are also included whenever possible. Photos have been taken under polarized light (labeled "polarized" or "PL"), transmitted light (labeled as "transmitted" or "TL"), or using differential interference contrast (DIC).
If you're interested in submitting photos from your own research (i.e. reference collection) to include on this page, please contact me. You'll receive full credits for your images, and photos can be linked to your email, project website, etc.
As usual, I appreciate any feedback, questions, and suggestions. Feel free to use these images for your research or interest, but I would appreciate if you could kindly cite the website and/or the photographer in your work. Thank you! ¡Gracias!
The families of plants currently in the database:
Araceae, Bixaceae, Convolvuvaceae, Cucurbitaceae, Cycadaceae, Cyperaceae, Dioscoraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Heliconiaceae, Juncaceae, Malvaceae, Marantaceae, Moraceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae, Poaceae, and Typhaceae.
Similarly to today, people in the past moved, and with them their ideas and their material culture. However, seeing these movements across the landscape can be trickier for perishable materials. Fortunately, using different lines of evidence, it is possible to reconstruct in some cases the movement of plants but also people and animals.
Recent investigations at the Plaza of the Columns Complex at the heart of the ceremonial precinct of Teotihuacan (Mexico) have revealed the presence of Maya elites that probably resided here during the Early Classic (3rd-4th centuries CE), pre-dating the Entrada, a historic event in Mesoamerican history. These elites likely participated in the early construction of this monumental city and in the rituals associated to rulership.
In this paper we focus on a 4th century monumental feasting deposit (cache) within the Plaza of the Columns Complex, where thousands of ceramic sherds (both local and Maya style) as well as animal and plant remains, have been recovered. The rich botanical assemblage recovered thus far indicate the presence of local but also non-local plant resources (more frequently associated with the Maya) probably imported from beyond the Teotihuacan Valley.
G. Biranda, L. Vaccari, N. Cefarin, C. Cagnato, I. Pantyukhina, N. Skakun, C. Lubritto, G. Sorrentino, Laura Longo
The advent of dietary carbohydrates as human staple food was a breakthrough. However, perishable plant-food remains (e.g. starch) are poorly represented in the archaeological record, and the role played by vegetable food processing has only recently been reconsidered. Evidences from our research on grinding stones retrieved in MIS 3 sites are challenging the mainstream model of the so- called Neolithic Revolution. Plants rich in starch, like roots and tubers, were processed into flour by means of grinding and pounding stone tools. Preliminary results are showing that use-related biogenic residues such as starch granules can be extracted and characterized with cutting-edge analytical protocols combining optical and FE-SEM microscopy (low vacuum) coupled with micro and nano-FTIR spectroscopy coupled with the high brightness of synchrotron radiation (SR).
Use-related starch granules, extracted from grinding stones retrieved from Pontic Steppe Early Upper Palaeolithic sites, have been morphologically identified and SEM micrographs show the lamellar structure (amylose and amylopectin). Those features were targeted by FTIR analysis and the spectral feature of amylopectin was detected, even though possibly degraded (Figure 1). The spectra of archaeological starches were compared with those obtained from modern starches (red potato).
New data from the on-going beamtime, strengthening the putative hypothesis, will be presented during the workshop.
The research reveals twofold outcomes: (i) it demonstrates the suitability of high-hand large infrastructure to be applied to archaeological materials; (ii) it sheds light on the introduction of dietary carbohydrates in Homo sapiens nutritional strategies, occurring at least around 40,000 ka around the Black Sea area. Finally, it proves that STEMs and Humanities can be positively merged to solve relevant issues in humans’ dietary adaptation according to the colonized niches. Moreover, investigating the “Starch Food Niche” in an evolutionary perspective brings revelatory keys on the origins of contemporary mismatch which is at the base of diseases related to starchy food (metabolic syndrome) highlighting the relevance of investigating our past to understand our present and to plan future sustainable strategies.
Preliminary assessment of these analyses indicates that wood pertaining to both hardwood and softwood tree species were placed in the fire shrine, either as fuel or in the form of objects that may have been ritually important. To contextualize these data, I will discuss the ecology of the tree species recovered in the fire shrine, the potential reasons that the ancient Maya may have had for choosing these taxa, and will compare these data with other anthracological studies carried out in the Maya region. Finally, I will also consider ethnobotanical studies carried out in this region, including the rituals and ceremonies performed by the present-day Maya. These archaeobotanical data further our comprehension of ancient Maya rituals and their views towards their rich natural environment.
To reconstruct the meals that participants may have enjoyed in the past I consider the plant remains but also the other cultural materials that were also part of the feasting deposits, as “people do not eat species, they eat meals” Sherratt (1991:221). Based on the ceramic attributes, as well as the faunal and botanical data, I argue that while the sounds of music—drums and whistles— played in the background, and aromatic resins and flowers burned in censers, participants were served sweet and spicy foods and drinks, made from ingredients collected from wild and domestic landscapes. The senses of those attending these feasts were further stimulated, as mind-altering plants may have also been part of the menu.
These results suggest that ancient Maya feasts were events that cannot be simply recreated through painted ceramic vases or from reading historic records. If we are to appreciate the nuances of ancient Maya feasts the archaeobotanical record needs to be further evaluated. Studies whereby ancient plant remains are considered with other lines of evidence render the past more vibrant, bringing to life the smells, sounds, and tastes of the past.
Finalement, au regard de la forme de leur habitat et des vestiges mobiliers, en particulier des deux marqueurs de la culture BVSG que sont les lames en silex et les parures, l'analyse du site révèle que les néolithiques de Verson « les Mesnils » entretenaient de nombreux liens avec d'autres populations de la sphère BVSG. Ils pourraient même avoir joué un rôle dans la diffusion de ces objets.
The Early Neolithic site of Verson « Les Mesnils » was the object of a pre-development excavation carried out in 2012 on the Caen plain (Calvados), in western Normandy. We were able to study a small settlement dating to the middle phase of the Bliquy/Villeneuve-Saint-Germain culture (BVSG) for the first time in the region. It was composed of five houses occupied for a duration of about 180 years between 5010 and 4830 B.C, in three different phases. As is the case for corresponding habitat sites in the region, it is situated in a plateau context, implanted on pedosediments of loessic origin, which has limited it's conservation. The features consist of twenty eight large pits spatially organised in several series, clearly corresponding to the lateral pits of long houses of Danubian tradition, although post holes were no longer visible. The fill of these pits yielded abundant, well preserved domestic artefacts, some unprecedented, quite remarkable for western Normandy. Their study has provided data on the hitherto poorly documented material culture of the BVSG Neolithic peoples in this part of Western France. The results, combined with those of analyses carried out on the pit fills (stratigraphy, micromorphology, macrobotanical remains), has also enabled us to examine the nature and the spatial organisation of domestic activities within the dwelling units of this hamlet. The distribution pattern corresponds to those usually observed on sites for which the building plans are preserved. A lot of information on the use of the pits have been gleaned, showing that they were an integral part of the daily use of the danubian houses. Some of them may have had specific functions, whereas others show evidence of having been cleaned out and trampling, pointing to their probable use for waste mangement by the people living there. The environment and how Neolithic peoples made use of it is another question we were able to approach.
All in all, taking into account the form of the habitat and the artefacts discovered, particularly the two BVSG cultural markers, flint blades and personal ornaments, the site study reveals many links between the inhabitants at Verson « Les Mesnils » and other populations within the BVSG sphere. They may even have played a role in the diffusion of these objects.
Découvrez comment, à partir de vases et de graines carbonisées, les archéologues reconstituent l'alimentation des Mayas. Pourquoi ne pas vous en inspirer pour vos recettes personnelles ?