Abstract
This study aims to better understand taphonomical effects relevant to Setaria italica (foxtail millet), particularly the deformation caused by charring in fully-formed grains, and the potential preservation of underdeveloped seeds. Foxtail millet is a staple grain commonly found in Neolithic and later sites across Eurasia after initial domestication in northern China. Precise control of atmospheric conditions enabled determination of ideal parameters for charring without seed destruction. These experiments were able to produce charred seeds that strongly resemble archaeological specimens, making three key findings: (1) lateral expansion found in many ancient foxtail millet seeds indicates that charring occurred with the seeds in the husks. (2) Oxidizing conditions produced far better results in terms of seed preservation and retention of identifiable characteristics. (3) Smaller and less developed or ‘filled’ seeds survived in the same conditions as larger, plump seeds. These results allow for better interpretation of depositional context of millet seeds, and point to heat treatment during the de-husking process as a common way for seeds to enter the archaeological record.
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Acknowledgements
This research was carried out at the Archaeometry Facility and Archaeobotany Laboratory at the University of Oregon with the very great help of Brendan J. Culleton, Douglas J. Kennett, and Gyoung-Ah Lee. Many thanks to them and to Daphne Gallagher, Corrie Bakels, and an anonymous reviewer whose comments have greatly improved this paper, and to Nicole Portley and Rupa Pillai, for their assistance in the early stages of these experiments. This work was supported by the Laboratory Program for Korean Studies through the Ministry of Education of Republic of Korea and Korean Studies Promotion Service of the Academy of Korean Studies (AKS-2015-2250001).
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Communicated by C. C. Bakels.
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Walsh, R. Experiments on the effects of charring on Setaria italica (foxtail millet). Veget Hist Archaeobot 26, 447–453 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-016-0600-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00334-016-0600-0