Replicating Plant Processing: Insights into Ancient Diets and Perishable Technologies

Summary

This is an abstract from the "Archaeogastronomy: Grocery Lists as Seen from a Multidimensional Perspective" session, at the 89th annual meeting of the Society for American Archaeology.

Investigating plant processing in the archaeological record is challenging due to the perishable nature of plant materials and their associated technologies, which are rarely preserved. We examine tools used for grinding and pounding, providing insights into the transformation of plant organs before their consumption. To address this, we have developed and tested a multiscale methodology for analyzing wear patterns and related residues on stone surfaces. This method is validated through replicative experiments, tailored on the evidence recovered from Brînzeni I, a Moldovan cave site, where 114 putative ground stones were found in the cultural layer III (32–18 cal ka BP). Our methodological approach has been fine-tuned through replicative sequential experiments, following a standardized protocol that includes Plant Selection: Choosing plant species based on Upper Paleolithic Moldovan biome compatibility, as well as ethnographic and archaeological evidence; Tool Selection: Identifying stones resembling archaeological samples via petrographic analysis; and Detailed Documentation: Employing imaging techniques at various magnification levels, from macro to nano scales to document wear formations and the entrapment of use-related residues. The creation of a reference collection has been pivotal in understanding ancient gestures, timing, and resource productivity, enabling us to gain insights into past exploitation methods.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Archaeogastronomy: Grocery Lists as Seen from a Multidimensional Perspective   •
• Society for American Archaeology 89th Annual Meeting, New Orleans, LA (2024)

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 40088.0