Welcome to the McMaster Paleoethnobotanical Research Database. This database is run and designed by PhD candidate Shalen Prado from the Department of Anthropology at McMaster University.
This database is a collection of microbotanical specimens from modern and archaeological contexts and is designed to evolve alongside research projects at the McMaster Paleoethnobotanical research facility. You are able to browse by type of specimen (i.e. starch grain or phytolith) or you can search for a particular species by using the search bar.
If you have any questions please contact Shalen Prado at prados@mcmaster.ca
Featured Item
Solanum tuberosum (Potato)
Shape: conical/triangular/ovoid and sphere shaped starch grains (transitory)
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: eccentric, rarely…
Featured Collection
Starch Grains
Starch grains procured from artefact residues, archaeological sediments, and modern plant samples.
Recently Added Items
Solanum tuberosum (Potato)
Shape: conical/triangular/ovoid and sphere shaped starch grains (transitory)
Surface: smooth
Outer wall: single
Hilum: eccentric, rarely…
Phaseolus coccineus (Scarlet Runner Bean)
Shape: ovoid - ellipsoid / kidney shaped (reniform) starch grains and sphere shaped starch grains (transitory)
Surface: smooth-wrinkled
Outer wall:…
Zea mays (Haudenosaunee White Corn - dried)
Shape: polygonal and spheroid (transitory)
Surface: rugose
Outer wall: double
Hilum: centric, often open
Extinction cross: well defined, arms are…