The Role of Morphometry to Delineate Changes in the Spikelet Shape of Wild Cereals: The Case Study of Takarkori (Holocene, Central Sahara, SW Libya)
Chapter
Publication Date:
2018
Short description:
The Role of Morphometry to Delineate Changes in the Spikelet Shape of Wild Cereals: The Case Study of Takarkori (Holocene, Central Sahara, SW Libya) / Fornaciari, R., Arru, L., Terenziani, R., Mercuri, A.M. - In: Plants and People in African Past: Progress in African Archaeobotany / [a cura di] A.M. Mercuri, C. D'Andrea, R. Fornaciari, A. Höhn. - [s.l] : Springer, 2018. - ISBN 9783319898384. - pp. 100-122 [10.1007/978-3-319-89839-1_7]
abstract:
morphometrical study of hundreds of spikelets recovered from
archaeological deposits of Takarkori (SW Libya) provides data on the presence and
size variations of wild cereals gathered by hunter-gatherers in the central Sahara
during the Early and Middle Holocene (c. 10,200–c. 4600 cal yr BP). Spikelets of
Panicum laetum, Echinochloa colona and Sorghum bicolor subsp. verticilliflorum,
found in 18 seed/fruit concentrations, are measured using image analysis techniques.
These data demonstrate that the archaeobotanical specimens have a similar
typology, maturity stage and are of a uniform size, suggesting that they were
selected by the human groups living in the area. Indeed, the spikelets of two samples
recovered from sediments excavated elsewhere on the site compared to those from
the seed concentrations, show a smaller size and greater variation in maturation
status. Results are compared to metrical data obtained from modern species.
archaeological deposits of Takarkori (SW Libya) provides data on the presence and
size variations of wild cereals gathered by hunter-gatherers in the central Sahara
during the Early and Middle Holocene (c. 10,200–c. 4600 cal yr BP). Spikelets of
Panicum laetum, Echinochloa colona and Sorghum bicolor subsp. verticilliflorum,
found in 18 seed/fruit concentrations, are measured using image analysis techniques.
These data demonstrate that the archaeobotanical specimens have a similar
typology, maturity stage and are of a uniform size, suggesting that they were
selected by the human groups living in the area. Indeed, the spikelets of two samples
recovered from sediments excavated elsewhere on the site compared to those from
the seed concentrations, show a smaller size and greater variation in maturation
status. Results are compared to metrical data obtained from modern species.
Iris type:
Capitolo/Saggio
Keywords:
Archaeobotany, Archaeology, Morphometry, Echinochloa, Panicum, Sorghum, Takarkori, Libya, Central Sahara
List of contributors:
Fornaciari, Rita; Arru, Laura; Terenziani, Rita; Mercuri, Anna Maria
Book title:
Plants and People in African Past: Progress in African Archaeobotany