Plant Food Cultures in Northern Jomon Japan from Starch Residue Analyses

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26750101
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Cultural assets study and museology
• Research Institution: National Museum of Japanese History
• Principal Investigator: SHIBUTANI AYAKO 国立歴史民俗博物館, 大学共同利用機関等の部局等, 特任助教 (80593657)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: 植物食文化 / 縄文時代 / 北日本 / 残存デンプン粒 / 野生植物 / 加工・利用技術 / 資源状況

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aimed to reconstruct processing techniques of wild plant foods at the Jomon sites in northern Japan by examining residues of starch granules extracted from stone tools and pottery vessels. As the result of this study, three points will be shown.

(1)Comparison of archaeological starch from stone tools and pottery vessels with macrobotanical remains might explore plant resources for food and morphometric patterns of processed plants. (2)Correctly identification of starch granules of processed plants from contaminated materials within the archaeological context were examined. (3)Different lines of degradation between cooked/heated by pottery and processed by stone tools might clearly be resolved.

Free Research Field

植物考古学・文化財科学