安徽含山凌家滩遗址出土刻槽盆的淀粉粒分析

刻槽盆是一种内壁遍布粗糙刻划纹的特殊陶器。目前,对其功能尚没有统一的认识,而淀粉粒分析无疑将提供重要信息。本文对安徽省含山县凌家滩遗址(5500～5300 BP)发掘出土的18件刻槽盆残片开展淀粉粒分析,在陶片上发现种类丰富的淀粉粒,其中以薏苡(Coix lacryma-jobi L.)和未定禾本科(Poaceae)为主,其次是小麦族(Triticeae tribe)、壳斗科栎属(Quercus L.)和其他根茎类植物的淀粉粒,豇豆属(Vigna sp.)、莲藕(Nelumbo nucifera)和山药(Dioscorea opposita Thunb.)的淀粉粒相对较少。上述结果表明刻槽盆主要用于加工野生植物资源。值得注意的是,在器物上发现了大量受到研磨/杵捣处理的破损淀粉粒或烹煮导致的糊化淀粉粒,这表明它们应该用于研磨/杵捣和烹煮食物。淀粉粒的统计分析结果表明,先民的生业方式在不同时期发生了细微变化,薏苡和未定禾本科植物的比例虽仍占据着优势,但先民已开始有意识地减少对这两类植物的依赖,逐渐加强了对小麦族、栎属、豇豆属和根茎类植物资源的开发和利用。对具有加工痕迹的淀粉粒进行分析,发现先民在加工各类型植物时,始终采用研磨为主、烹煮为辅的方式,刻槽盆的功能在不同时期无明显变化。

Starch grain analysis of the grooved basin from the Lingjiatan site,Hanshan county,Anhui Province

The function of the grooved basin in the Neolithic Period in China is diverse, and starch grain analysis provides important information. In this study, 18 potsherds, excavated at Lingjiatan Site(5500~5300BP) in Anhui Province, were examined for starch grain analysis. The results show that ancient starch grains mainly came from Coix lacryma-jobi L., unidentified Poaceae and Triticeae tribe, followed by Quercus L., other root and tuber plants; the starch grains of Vigna sp., Dioscorea opposita Thunb. and Nelumbo nucifera. were also found. Thus, the ancient people gathered multiple plant foods that were available in their environment. Furthermore, a large number of broken and gelatinized damaged starch grains show that these special potteries were used to grind and cook plants. The statistical results further indicate that the subsistence did not change significantly in different period. However, the ancient people had consciously reduced the consumption of Coix lacryma-jobi L. and unidentified Poaceae, but they gradually increased the exploitation of Triticeae tribe, Quercus L., Vigna sp. and root and tuber plants. The analysis of processed starch grains show that the plant processing method was mainly by grinding/pounding and sometimes by cooking. This reflects a lack of change in the function of these grooved basins over time.