erik simpson
2024-03-21 22:22:47 UTC
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0298896
Abstract
Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from
the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These
deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the
earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian
tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20
obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa
Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop
plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The
analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for
species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some
cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been
cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis),
Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis
and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of
Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species
in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of
four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira),
Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The
occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains
suggests the translocation of previously not described South American
cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site
in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the
Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set
of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial
stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.
The paper even has a reference to Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki manuscript.
Abstract
Starch residue analysis was carried out on stone tools recovered from
the bottom layer of the Anakena site on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). These
deposits have been dated to AD 1000–1300 AD and so far, represent the
earliest evidence of human settlement on this island. Twenty obsidian
tools were analyzed. Analysis of 46 starch grains recovered from 20
obsidian tools from the earliest dated level of the Anakena site on Rapa
Nui provides direct evidence for translocation of traditional crop
plants at initial stages of the colonization of this island. The
analysis of starch grains was based mainly on statistical methods for
species identification but was complemented by visual inspection in some
cases. Our results identify taxons previously unknown to have been
cultivated on the island, such as breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis),
Zingiber officinale (ginger), and starch grains of the Spondias dulcis
and Inocarpus fagifer tropical trees. Additionally, starch grains of
Colocasia esculenta (taro) and Dioscorea sp. (yam), both common species
in Pacific agriculture, were identified. Furthermore, the presence of
four American taxa Ipomoea batatas (sweet potato), Canna sp. (achira),
Manihot esculenta (manioc), and Xanthosoma sp., was detected. The
occurrence of Canna sp., M. esculenta, and Xanthosoma sp. starch grains
suggests the translocation of previously not described South American
cultivars into the Pacific. The detection of I. batatas from this site
in Rapa Nui constitutes the earliest record of this cultigen in the
Pacific. Our study provides direct evidence for translocation of a set
of traditional Polynesian and South American crop plants at the initial
stages of colonization in Rapa Nui.
The paper even has a reference to Thor Heyerdahl's Kon-Tiki manuscript.