A systematic approach to the recovery and identification of starches from carbonised deposits on ceramic vessels

Starch granules are being successfully recovered from an increasing range of artefacts. Here we present the recovery of starches from carbonised ceramic ‘foodcrusts’ from late Mesolithic–early Neolithic residues at the site of Neustadt in northern Germany. A method for investigating background loading of residues with contaminant starches is proposed by comparing interior ‘foodcrusts’ versus exterior ‘sooting’, for the purposes of eliminating samples with insignificant quantities of grains from subsequent identification procedures. The classification of starches to plant taxon is traditionally achieved by manual observations and measurement of nominal and ratio morphological variables. Here, we present a method for the automated classification of granules, using software developed in-house. The results show that when multiple granules are considered, the species selected as modern reference examples can be classified to high levels of specificity. When applied to the archaeological samples we show that wild plant resources persist in importance across the transition to agriculture, with high proportions of granule forms consistent with acorn (Quercus sp.) occurring in all samples. Hazelnut (Corylus avellana) types are less well-represented suggesting it was not an important food in the context of pottery, and may have been over-represented in the repertoire of hunter–gatherer resources. Cereals are not represented in any of the samples, supporting the notion that their adoption may have been a slow process, occurring more gradually than for other domesticated foods, or that they were not initially processed in ceramic vessels.     

Limestone Houses in Central Kansas

Immediately after the Civil War, the Plains Border in central Kansas offered the westering peasant a set of new challenges. In an almost treeless environment, a suitable building material was a prominent prerequisite for permanent settlement. Its almost universal availability together with its conveniently uniform thickness and initial softness made the Fencepost limestone a suitable substitute for wood. Its dimensions, color and texture impart to the entire cultural landscape an element of uniformity anda unique folk character. Houses and barns, churches and stores, even curbstones and fences display the character of this important building stone. Quarrying and building were accomplished by laymen and their methods, employing uncomplicated tools, resulted in a straightforward vernacular architecture. While several design types appeared, ethnic affinity was expressed in the treatment of appurtenances rather than by any overt distinction of design. The use of stone represents the influence of material availability rather than ethnic experience. Rail service brought lumber into competition with stone and after the 1920s the use of stone was discontinued. The veneration of old things, current in the country, has placed the stone forms remaining on the threshold of a new popularity and appears to assure their survival