Heron, C. and Shoda, S. and Barcons, A.B. and Czebreszuk, J. and etl, .
(2016)
First molecular and isotopic
evidence of millet processing in
prehistoric pottery vessels.
Scientific Reports, 6.
pp. 1-9.
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Abstract
Analysis of organic residues in pottery vessels has been successful in detecting a range of animal
and plant products as indicators of food preparation and consumption in the past. However, the
identification of plant remains, especially grain crops in pottery, has proved elusive. Extending the
spectrum is highly desirable, not only to strengthen our understanding of the dispersal of crops from
centres of domestication but also to determine modes of food processing, artefact function and the
culinary significance of the crop. Here, we propose a new approach to identify millet in pottery vessels,
a crop that spread throughout much of Eurasia during prehistory following its domestication, most
likely in northern China. We report the successful identification of miliacin (olean-18-en-3β-ol methyl
ether), a pentacyclic triterpene methyl ether that is enriched in grains of common/broomcorn millet
(Panicum miliaceum), in Bronze Age pottery vessels from the Korean Peninsula and northern Europe.
The presence of millet is supported by enriched carbon stable isotope values of bulk charred organic
matter sampled from pottery vessel surfaces and extracted n-alkanoic acids, consistent with a C4 plant
origin. These data represent the first identification of millet in archaeological ceramic vessels, providing
a means to track the introduction, spread and consumption of this important crop.
| Item Type: |
Article
|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Organic residues, pottery vessels, plant products, molecular,domestication, millet |
| Author Affiliation: |
Department of Archaeological Sciences, University of Bradford, Richmond Road, Bradford BD7 1DP, UK |
| Subjects: |
Plant Production |
| Divisions: |
Millet |
| Depositing User: |
Mr T L Gautham
|
| Date Deposited: |
10 Jan 2019 08:06 |
| Last Modified: |
10 Jan 2019 08:06 |
| URI: |
http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/15752 |
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