Integrating Lipid and Starch Grain Analyses From Pottery Vessels to Explore Prehistoric Foodways in Northern Gujarat, India

Abstract

This study attempts a holistic approach to past foodways in prehistoric northern Gujarat, India, by considering evidence of food production, distribution, preparation and consumption. We present here the results of a pilot residue study, integrating lipid and starch grain analyses, conducted on 28 ceramic vessels from three Chalcolithic/Harappan settlements (c. 3300–2000 cal. BC) in northern Gujarat, which are discussed in the light of previous evidence of plant and animal acquisition and preparation strategies in this region. We aim to explore how the prehistoric inhabitants of northern Gujarat transformed ingredients into meals, focusing on how different foodstuffs were processed. When assessed on their own, the lipid and compound-specific isotopic data suggest that animal fats were primarily processed in ceramic vessels, specifically non-ruminant fats. However, lipid residue analysis favors the detection of fat-rich animal products and is often unable to disentangle signatures resulting from the mixing of plant and animal products. The incorporation of starch grain analyses provides evidence for the processing of a range of plants in the vessels, such as cereals, pulses and underground storage organs. Together, the results provide a holistic perspective on foodways and a way forward in overcoming preservational and interpretational limitations.

First archaeological evidence for ginger consumption as a potential medicinal ingredient in a late medieval leprosarium at St Leonard, Peterborough, England

“…According to the literature, the starch grains identified belong to the Zingiber sp . of the Zingiberaceae family 25 – 27 . Through comparison with the modern reference collection created for this study, these grains were attributed to Zingiber officinale , excluding those belonging to Curcuma longa and Alpinia officinarum which also belong to Zingiberaceae and were present in late medieval Europe 28 (Table 1 , Fig.…”

Fatty Acids and Starch Identification within Minute Archaeological Fragments: Qualitative Investigation for Assessing Feasibility

“…As previously discussed, numerous investigations have been conducted on the analysis of fatty acids in archaeological vessels. Upon reviewing these studies, it becomes evident that the majority of them utilize intact vessels or large fragments to procure samples [9,41,[57][58][59][60]. However, there exists no consensus on a standardized protocol for identifying fatty acids, as different methods are employed in each study.…”

“…Research by Casanova et al (2022) and García-Granero et al (2022) [9,66] opted to crush entire portions of potsherds and utilized sample quantities ranging from 2 to 10 g. However, the viability of replicating such studies is constrained by practical concerns stemming from the potential fragmentation of vessels, as highlighted earlier. Research employing methodologies similar to those outlined in experiments 1, 2, and 3 of our study (though with minor deviations in certain extraction procedures) have also been carried out by other researchers [60,67,68].…”

“…Among the dietary biomolecules, carbohydrates and lipids seem to hold particular significance. Several archaeological studies have focused on analyzing the presence of starch and fatty acids in utensils traditionally utilized for food preparation, grinding, or storage [9]. Starch derived from various food sources tends to accumulate within surface irregularities on vessel walls, and this allows the material to maintain properties like a crystalline structure, and birefringence over time [10].…”

Desenvolvimento e aplicação de software na caracterização química das ceras cuticulares: Estudo de espécies brasileiras de Polypodiopsida

“…These compounds are important in maintaining life being, for example, elementary constituents of lipoprotein membranes, 1 source of energy, 2 chemical signalers via peroxidation 3 and a crucial part of hydrophobic coatings of plant surfaces. 4 Moreover, knowledge of lipids extends to archeology 5 and health. 6 The coating lipids covering the plant surfaces are known as cuticular waxes and stand out primarily for their importance as a barrier that limits water loss in aerial tissues with no secondary thickening, such as flowers, leaves, stems and fruits.…”