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The Identification Of Xanthorrhoea Resins By Starch Morphology: Prospects For Archaeological And Taxonomic Applications, Jeffrey Parr
The Identification Of Xanthorrhoea Resins By Starch Morphology: Prospects For Archaeological And Taxonomic Applications, Jeffrey Parr
Jeffrey Parr
For Australian Aboriginal people plant resins have played an important role in both trade and the manufacture of hafted tools. In particular, the resins of theXanthorrhoea species were widely distributed and favored resources. The aim of this pilot study was to: (1) determine if starch grains were present in all of theXanthorrhoea resin samples examined, and (2) determine the feasibility of discriminating between resins of differentXanthorrhoea species by the morphological attributes of their starch grains. The results established that starch grains were present within all of theXanthorrhoea species resins that were examined. Moreover, for the purpose of identifying resins from …
Phytolith And Starch Analysis Of Sediment Samples From Two Archaeological Sites On Dauar Island, Torres Strait, Northeastern Australia, Jeffrey Parr, M Carter
Phytolith And Starch Analysis Of Sediment Samples From Two Archaeological Sites On Dauar Island, Torres Strait, Northeastern Australia, Jeffrey Parr, M Carter
Jeffrey Parr
Current archaeological research suggests that first human occupation of the Torres Strait Islands occurred sometime between 2500 and 3000 cal b.p., and evidence indicates that the development of agricultural mound-and-ditch systems occurred there after 1200 cal b.p. Although archaeological remains testify to the existence of a marine based subsistence economy prior to 1200 cal b.p., the potential presence of earlier prehistoric horticultural signatures has yet to be adequately examined. This study investigates such evidence through a preliminary application of fossil phytolith and starch grain analysis using excavated sediments from two archaeological sites on Dauar Island, eastern Torres Strait. The results …