Starch Grains
Dublin Core
Title
Starch Grains
Subject
Starch grains
Description
Starch grains procured from artefact residues, archaeological sediments, and modern plant samples.
Source
McMaster Paleoethnobotanical Research Facility
Creator
S. Prado
Collection Items
Triticum dicoccum (Emmer)
Shape: Lenticular - circular/sub-circular in plan view, biconvex in side view.
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: radially symmetrical
Lamellae: faint/not visible
Fissures: rare - centric
Plant part:…
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: radially symmetrical
Lamellae: faint/not visible
Fissures: rare - centric
Plant part:…
Quercus sp. (Oak, acorn)
Shape: ovoid starch grains
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: semi-eccentric
Extinction cross: bent arms
Lamellae: absent
Fissures: small longitudinal natural fissure
Plant part: nut
Supporting literature:
Weber, S. and Price,…
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: semi-eccentric
Extinction cross: bent arms
Lamellae: absent
Fissures: small longitudinal natural fissure
Plant part: nut
Supporting literature:
Weber, S. and Price,…
Hordeum vulgare (var. Bere) (Barley)
Shape: Lenticular - Circular/sub-circular in plan view, biconvex in side view.
Surface: smooth, sometimes with very faint dimples. Surface facets may be present, or a slight indentation at the hilum.
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric &…
Surface: smooth, sometimes with very faint dimples. Surface facets may be present, or a slight indentation at the hilum.
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric &…
Avena sativa (Oat)
Shape: Faceted Lenticular - angular/circular in plan view, biconvex in side view.
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: radially symmetrical, bold
Lamellae: absent
Fissures: absent
Plant part: grain
Diagnostic…
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: radially symmetrical, bold
Lamellae: absent
Fissures: absent
Plant part: grain
Diagnostic…
Cicer arietinum (Chickpea)
Shape: ovoid / spherical starch grains (non-lenticular). Some forms were almost reniform.
Size: ~12 - 15 microns in this sample.
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric / semi-eccentric
Extinction cross: bilaterally symmetrical, with…
Size: ~12 - 15 microns in this sample.
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric / semi-eccentric
Extinction cross: bilaterally symmetrical, with…
Lens culinaris (Lentil)
Shape: ovoid and sometimes kidney shaped/reniform (non-lenticular)
Surface: smooth - wrinkled
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: bilaterally symmetrical and often diffuse (Henry et al. 2009: Table 2).
Lamellae:…
Surface: smooth - wrinkled
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: bilaterally symmetrical and often diffuse (Henry et al. 2009: Table 2).
Lamellae:…
Pisum sativum (Pea)
Shape: ovoid and/or elongated, non-lenticular starch grains.
Surface: wrinkled
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: central, "often elongated on the same axis as the fissure" (Henry et al. 2009: Table 2)
Lamellae: sometimes…
Surface: wrinkled
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: central, "often elongated on the same axis as the fissure" (Henry et al. 2009: Table 2)
Lamellae: sometimes…
Typha latifolia (Bulrush)
Shape: ovoid/spherical (non-lenticular).
Surface: smooth-rugose
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric - semi-eccentric
Extinction cross: bowed X shape cross.
Lamellae: absent
Fissures: often present (centric y shape)
Size: within this sample ~6…
Surface: smooth-rugose
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric - semi-eccentric
Extinction cross: bowed X shape cross.
Lamellae: absent
Fissures: often present (centric y shape)
Size: within this sample ~6…
Vicia faba (Broad Bean)
Shape: ovaoid / ellipsoid starch grains (non-lenticular).
Surface: smooth-wrinkled
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: bold, often with more than 4 arms
Lamellae: absent (rarely visible)
Fissures: present - often longitudinal …
Surface: smooth-wrinkled
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric
Extinction cross: bold, often with more than 4 arms
Lamellae: absent (rarely visible)
Fissures: present - often longitudinal …
Triticum monococcum (Einkorn)
Shape: lenticular - circular/sub-circular in plan view, biconvex in side view.
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric, closed
Extinction cross: radially symmetrical
Lamellae: faint
Fissures: absent
Plant part: grain
Supporting…
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: centric, closed
Extinction cross: radially symmetrical
Lamellae: faint
Fissures: absent
Plant part: grain
Supporting…