Differentiating dietary and non-dietary microfossils extracted from human dental calculus: The importance of sweet potato to ancient diet on Rapa Nui

Journal of Archaeological Science

Volumn 54, Issue , 2015, Pages 54-63

  Tromp, Monica ^a   Dudgeon, John V ^a  

^a IDAHO STATE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

Easter Island; Phytolith; Polynesia; Starch

Indexed keywords

ARCHAEOLOGY; DENTITION; DIET; MICROFOSSIL; PHYTOLITH; POTATO; STARCH;

EASTER ISLAND;

IPOMOEA BATATAS;

EID: 84917691019     PISSN: 03054403     EISSN: 10959238     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2014.11.024     Document Type: Article

References (78)

1. Adler C.J., Dobney K., Weyrich L.S., Kaidonis J., Walker A.W., Haak W., Bradshaw C.J., Townsend G., Soltysiak A., Alt K.W., Parkhill J., Cooper A. Sequencing ancient calcified dental plaque shows changes in oral microbiota with dietary shifts of the Neolithic and industrial revolutions. Nat. Genet. 2013, 45(4):450-455.
2. Allen M.S., Ussher E. Starch analysis reveals prehistoric plant translocations and shell tool use, Marquesas Islands, Polynesia. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2013, 40(6):2799-2812.
3. Barton H. The case for rainforest foragers: the starch record at Niah Cave, Sarawak. Asian Perspect. 2005, 44:56-72.
4. Blatt S.H., Redmond B.G., Cassman V., Sciulli P.W. Dirty teeth and ancient trade: evidence of cotton fibres in human dental calculus from Late Woodland, Ohio. Int. J. Osteoarchaeol. 2011, 21(6):669-678.
5. Buckley S., Usai D., Jakob T., Radini A., Hardy K. Dental calculus reveals unique insights into food items, cooking and plant processing in prehistoric Central Sudan. PLoS One 2014, 9(7):e100808.
6. Chandler-Ezell K., Pearsall D.M., Zeidler J.A. Root and tuber phytoliths and starch grains document manioc (Manihot esculenta), arrowroot (Maranta arundinacea) and Llerén (Calathea sp.) at the Real Alto site, Ecuador. Econ. Bot. 2006, 60(2):103-120.
7. Clarke A.C. Origins and Dispersal of the Sweet Potato and Bottle Gourd in Oceania: Implications for Preistoric Human Mobility 2009, (Unpublished PhD dissertation), Massey University.
8. 15N) perspective on human diet on Rapa Nui (Easter Island) ca. AD 1400-1900. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 2013, 152(2):173-185.
9. Crowther A. Starch residues on undecorated Lapita pottery from Anir, New Ireland. Archaeol. Ocean. 2005, 40(2):62-66.
10. Cummings L.S. Areview of recent pollen and phytolith studies from various contexts on Easter Island. Easter Island in Pacific Context- South Seas Symposium: Proceedings from the Fourth International Conference on Easter Island and East Polynesia 1998, 100-106. Bearsville and Cloud Mountain Press, Los Osos. C.M. Stevenson, G. Lee, F.J. Morin (Eds.).
11. Cummings L.S., Magennis A. Aphytolith and starch record of food and grit in Mayan human tooth tartar. Primer encuentro Europeo sobre el estudio de fitolitos 1997, 211-218. Gráficas Fersán, Madrid. A. Pinilla, J. Juan-Tresserras, M.J. Machado (Eds.).
12. Delhon C., Orliac C. The vanished palm trees of Easter Island: new radiocarbon and phytolith data. The Gotland Papers- Selected Papers from the VII International Conference on Easter Island and the Pacific: Migration, Identity, and Cultural Heritage 2010, 97-110. Gotland University Press. P. Wallin, H. Martinsson-Wallin (Eds.).
13. Dobney K., Brothwell D. Amethod for evaluating the amount of dental calculus on teeth from archaeological sites. J.Archaeol. Sci. 1987, 14:343-351.
14. Dobney K.M. Study of the dental calculus. The Jewish Burial Ground at Jewbury 1994, 507-521. Council for British Archaeology, York. J.M. Lilley, G. Stroud, D.R. Brothwell, M.H. Williamson (Eds.).
15. Dransfield J., Flenley J.R., King S.M., Harkness D.D., Rapu S. Arecently extinct palm from Easter Island. Nature 1984, 312(20):750-752.
16. Dudgeon J.V. The Genetic Architecture of the Late Prehistoric and Protohistoric Rapanui 2008, (Unpublished PhD dissertation), University of Hawai'i.
17. Dudgeon J.V., Tromp M. Diet, geography and drinking water in polynesia: microfossil research from archaeological human dental calculus, Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Int. J. Osteoarchaeol. 2012, 10.1002/oa.2249.
18. Finney B. Polynesia-South American round trip canoe voyages. Rapa Nui J. 1994, 8:33-35.
19. Flenley J.R. The paleoecology of Easter Island, and its ecological disaster. Easter Island Studies: Contributions to the History of Rapanui in Memory of William T. Mulloy 1993, 27-45. Oxbow Books, Oxford. S.R. Fischer (Ed.).
20. Flenley J.R., King A.S.M., Jackson J., Chew C., Teller J.T., Prentice M.E. The Late Quaternary vegetational and climatic history of Easter Island. J.Quat. Sci. 1991, 6(2):85-115.
21. Fullagar R., Field J., Denham T., Lentfer C. Early and mid Holocene tool-use and processing of taro (Colocasia esculenta), yam (Dioscorea sp.) and other plants at Kuk Swamp in the highlands of Papua New Guinea. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2006, 33:595-614.
22. Gossen C.L. Deforestation, Drought and Humans: New Discoveries of the Later Quaternary Paleoenvironment of Rapa Nui 2011, (Unpublished PhD dissertation), Portland State University.
23. Green R.C. Sweet potato transfers in Polynesian prehistory. The Sweet Potato in Oceania: a Reappraisal 2005, 43-62. University of Sydney, Sydney. C. Ballard, P. Brown, R.M. Bourke, T. Harwood (Eds.).
24. Hardy K., Blakeney T., Copeland L., Kirkham J., Wrangham R., Collins M. Starch granules, dental calculus and new perspectives on ancient diet. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2009, 36:248-255.
25. Hardy K., Buckley S., Collins M.J., Estalrrich A., Brothwell D., Copeland L., Garcia-Tabernero A., Garcia-Vargas S., de la Rasilla M., Lalueza-Fox C., Huguet R., Bastir M., Santamaria D., Madella M., Wilson J., Cortes A.F., Rosas A. Neanderthal medics? evidence for food, cooking, and medicinal plants entrapped in dental calculus. Die Naturwiss. 2012, 99(8):617-626.
26. Haslam M. The decomposition of starch grains in soils: implications for archaeological residue analyses. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2004, 31(12):1715-1734.
27. Hather J.G., Kirch P.V. Prehistoric sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) from Mangaia Island, Central Polynesia. Antiquity 1991, 65:887-893.
28. Henry A.G. Plant Foods and the Dietary Ecology of Neandertals and Modern Humans 2010, (Unpublished PhD dissertation), The George Washington University.
29. Henry A.G., Brooks A.S., Piperno D.R. Microfossils in calculus demonstrate consumption of plants and cooked foods in Neanderthal diets (Shanidar III, Iraq; Spy I and II, Belgium). Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2011, 108:486-491.
30. Henry A.G., Hudson H.F., Piperno D.R. Changes in starch grain morphologies from cooking. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2009, 36:915-922.
31. Henry A.G., Piperno D.R. Using plant microfossils from dental calculus to recover human diet: a case study from Tell al-Raqa'i, Syria. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2008, 35:1943-1950.
32. Henry A.G., Ungar P.S., Passey B.H., Sponheimer M., Rossouw L., Bamford M., Sandberg P., de Ruiter D.J., Berger L. The diet of Australopithecus sediba. Nature 2012, 487(7405):90-93.
33. Herrera C., Custodio E. Conceptual hydrogeological model of volcanic Easter Island (Chile) after chemical and isotopic surveys. Hydrogeology J. 2008, 16(7):1329-1348.
34. Horrocks M., Baisden W.T., Nieuwoudt M.K., Flenley J., Feek D., González Nualart L., Haoa-Cardinali S., Edmunds Gorman T. Microfossils of Polynesian cultigens in lake sediment cores from Rano Kau, Easter Island. J.Paleolimnol. 2012, 47(2):185-204.
35. Horrocks M., Bedford S. Microfossil analysis of Lapita deposits in Vanuatu reveals introduced Araceae (aroids). Archaeol. Ocean. 2005, 40(2):67-74.
36. Horrocks M., Grant-Mackie J., Matisoo-Smith E. Introduced taro (Colocasia esculenta) and yams (Dioscorea spp.) in Podtanean (2700-1800 years BP) deposits from Mé Auré Cave (WMD007), Moindou, New Caledonia. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2008, 35:169-180.
37. Horrocks M., Irwin G., Jones M., Sutton D. Starch grains and xylem cells of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and bracken (Pteridium esculentum) in archaeological deposits from northern New Zealand. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2004, 31:251-258.
38. Horrocks M., Nunn P.D. Evidence for introduced taro (Colocasia esculenta) and lesser yam (Dioscorea esculenta) in Lapita-era (c. 3050-2500 cal. yr BP) deposits from Bourewa, southwest Viti Levu Island, Fiji. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2007, 34:10.
39. Horrocks M., Rechtman R.B. Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) and banana (Musa sp.) microfossils in deposits from the Kona Field System, Island of Hawaii. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2009, 36:1115-1126.
40. Horrocks M., Wozniak J.A. Plant microfossil analysis reveals disturbed forest and a mixed-crop, dryland production system at Te Niu, Easter Island. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2008, 35:126-142.
41. Hunt T.L. Rethinking Easter Island's ecological catastrophe. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2007, 34:485-502.
42. Hunt T.L., Lipo C.P. Late colonization of Easter Island. Science 2006, 311:1603-1606.
43. Hunt T.L., Lipo C.P. Evidence for a shorter chronology on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). J.Isl. Coast. Archaeol. 2008, 3(140-148):140-148.
44. Ladefoged T.N., Graves M.W., Coil J.H. The introduction of sweet potato in Polynesia: early remains from Hawai'i. J.Polyn. Soc. 2005, 114(4):359-373.
45. Lalueza Fox C., Juan J., Albert R.M. Phytolith analysis on dental calculus, enamel surface, and burial soil: information about diet and paleoenvironment. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 1996, 101:101-113.
46. Larsen C.S. Dental modifications and tool use in the Western Great Basin. Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 1985, 67:393-402.
47. Lentfer C., Therin M., Torrence R. Starch grains and environmental reconstruction: a modern test case from West New Britain, Papua New Guinea. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2002, 29:687-698.
48. Lentfer C.J., Green R. Phytoliths and the Evidence for Banana Cultivation at the Lapita Reber-Rakival Site on Watom Island, Papua New Guinea 2004, 75-88. Records of the Australian Museum.
49. Lieverse A.R. Diet and the aetiology of dental calculus. Int. J. Osteoarchaeol. 1999, 9:219-232.
50. Loy T.H., Spriggs M., Wickler S. Direct evidence for human use of plants 28,000 years ago: starch residues on stone artifacts from the northern Solomon Islands. Antiquity 1992, 66:898-912.
51. Mann D., Edwards J., Chase J., Beck W., Reanier R., Mass M., Finney B., Loret J. Drought, vegitation change, and human history on Rapa Nui (Isla de Pascua, Easter Island). Quat. Res. 2008, 69:26-28.
52. Métraux A. Ethnology of Easter Island 1971, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, (Reprints).
53. Mieth A., Bork H.-R. History, origin and extent of soil erosion on Easter Island (Rapa Nui). CATENA 2005, 63(2-3):244-260.
54. Minozzi S., Manzi G., Ricci F., di Lernia S., Borgognini Tarli S.M. Nonalimentary tooth use in prehistory: an example from early Holocene in Central Sahara (Uan Muhuggiag, Tadrart Acacus, Libya). Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 2003, 120(3):225-232.
55. Montenegro A., Avis C., Weaver A. Modeling the prehistoric arrival of the sweet potato in Polynesia. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2008, 35(2):355-367.
56. Orliac C., Orliac M. The disappearance of Easter Island's forest: over-exploitation or climatic catastrophe?. Easter Island in Pacific Context - South Seas Symposium: Proceedings from the Fourth International Conference on Easter Island and East Polynesia 1998, 129-134. Bearsville and Cloud Mountain Press, Los Osos. C. Stevenson, G. Lee, F.J. Morin (Eds.).
57. Owsley D.W., Mires A.-M., Gill G.W. Carious lesions in permanent dentitions of protohistoric Easter Islanders. J.Polyn. Soc. 1985, 94(4):415-422.
58. Owsley D.W., Mires A.M., Gill G.W. Caries frequency in deciduous dentitions of protohistoric Easter Islanders. Bull. Indo-Pac. Prehist. Assoc. 1983, 4:143-147.
59. Piperno D.R. Phytoliths: a Comprehensive Guide for Archaeologists and Paleoecologists 2006, AltaMira Press, Lanham.
60. Piperno D.R., Holst I. The presence of starch grains on prehistoric stone tools from the humid neotropics: indications of early tuber use and agriculture in Panama. J.Archaeol. Sci. 1998, 25:765-776.
61. Polet C. Study of human remains discovered in 2001 at Ahu 'O Rongo, Rapa Nui. Rapa Nui J. 2003, 1(2):114-118.
62. Reichert E.T. The Differentiation and Specificity of Starches in Relation to Genera, Species, Etc. 1913, The Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington D.C.
63. Roullier C., Benoit L., McKey D.B., Lebot V. Historical collections reveal patterns of diffusion of sweet potato in Oceania obscured by modern plant movements and recombination. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2013, 110(6):2205-2210.
64. Ruiz-Tagle E. Easter Island: the First Three Expeditions 2005, Museum Store, Rapanui Press, Rapa Nui.
65. Stevenson C.M. Corporate Descent Group Structure in Easter Island Prehistory 1984, (Unpublished PhD dissertation), The Pennsylvania State University.
66. Torrence R., Barton H. Ancient Starch Research 2006, Left Coast Press, Walnut Creek.
67. Torrence R., Wright R., Conway R. Identification of starch granules using image analysis and multivariate techniques. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2004, 31(5):519-532.
68. Tromp M. Large-scale Analysis of Microfossils Extracted from Human Rapanui Dental Calculus: a Dual-method Approach Using SEM-EDS and Light Microscopy to Address Ancient Dietary Hypotheses 2012, (Unpublished Master's thesis), Idaho State University.
69. Turner C.G.I., Nichol C.R., Van de Vijver T., Goetghebeur P. Scoring procedures for key morphological traits of the permanent dentition: the Arizona State University dental anthropology system. Advances in Dental Anthropology 1991, 13-31. Wiley-Liss, New York. M.A. Kelly, C.S. Larsen (Eds.).
70. Vrydaghs L., Cocquyt C., Van de Vijver T., Goetghebeur P. Phytolithic evidence for the introduction of Schoenoplectus californicus subsp. tatora at Easter Island. Rapa Nui J. 2004, 18(2):95-106.
71. Wallin P., Stevenson C., Ladefoged T. Sweet potato production on Rapa Nui. The Sweet Potato in Oceania: a Reappraisal 2005, 85-88. University of Sydney, Sydney. C. Ballard, P. Brown, R.M. Bourke, T. Harwood (Eds.).
72. Walshaw S.C. Reconstruction of Environment in Early Bronze Age Syria through Phytolith Analysis on Human Dental Calculus 1999, (Unpublished MA thesis), University of Alberta.
73. Warinner C., Rodrigues J.F., Vyas R., Trachsel C., Shved N., Grossmann J., Radini A., Hancock Y., Tito R.Y., Fiddyment S., Speller C., Hendy J., Charlton S., Luder H.U., Salazar-Garcia D.C., Eppler E., Seiler R., Hansen L.H., Castruita J.A., Barkow-Oesterreicher S., Teoh K.Y., Kelstrup C.D., Olsen J.V., Nanni P., Kawai T., Willerslev E., von Mering C., Lewis C.M., Collins M.J., Gilbert M.T., Ruhli F., Cappellini E. Pathogens and host immunity in the ancient human oral cavity. Nat. Genet. 2014, 46(4):336-344.
74. Wesolowski V., Ferraz Mendonça de Souza S.M., Reinhard K.J., Ceccantini G. Evaluating microfossil content of dental calculus from Brazilian sambaquis. J.Archaeol. Sci. 2010, 37(6):1326-1338.
75. Whistler W.A. Plants of the Canoe People: an Ethobiological Voyage through Polynesia 2009, National Tropical Botanical Garden, Kaua'i, Hawai'i.
76. Wilmshurst J.M., Hunt T.L., Lipo C.P., Anderson A.J. High-precision radiocarbon dating shows recent and rapid initial human colonization of East Polynesia. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 2010, 108(5):1815-1820.
77. Yen D.E. The Sweet Potato in Oceania: an Essay in Ethnobotany 1974, Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu, HI.
78. Yost C.L. The Calathea allouia (Marantaceae) and Commelinaceae conundrum: the search for diagnostic phytoliths. 8th International Meeting on Phytolith ResearchEstes Park, Colorado 2011, 61.